The leadership crisis engulfing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has intensified, with two national officers asserting their claim to the role of National Secretary.
This turmoil ensued following last week’s ruling by the Enugu Division of the Court of Appeal, which upheld the removal of Senator Samuel Anyanwu from the position of National Secretary. In a decisive judgment delivered by Justice Ridwan Abdullahi, Mr Ude Okoye was officially recognised as the PDP National Secretary.
In 2023, PDP stakeholders in the Southeast had selected Okoye to succeed Anyanwu, who vacated his post to run as the party’s candidate in the November 2023 Imo State governorship election. However, Anyanwu lost the election to the incumbent governor, Hope Uzodinma of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and subsequently returned to reclaim his position as National Secretary.
The Court of Appeal’s ruling merely reinforced a prior decision from a Federal High Court that had previously sided with Okoye. Before his appointment as National Secretary, Ude Okoye served as the PDP Deputy National Youth Leader, having garnered the backing of the party’s Southeast stakeholders.
Despite the appellate court’s ruling, Anyanwu remains steadfast in his intention to retain his position, a stance that threatens to exacerbate the existing leadership crisis within the main opposition party.
The ruling has fractured the party’s power dynamics, dividing the National Working Committee (NWC) into two opposing factions: one supporting Okoye and the other backing Anyanwu. Among the pro-Anyanwu camp are the Acting National Chairman, Amb. Umar Damagum, and the National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature. Damagum, Bature, and Anyanwu are known loyalists of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, effectively acting as Wike’s representatives within the PDP.
Anyanwu declared over the weekend his determination to contest the appellate court’s ruling at the Supreme Court. Conversely, Okoye has asserted himself as the legitimate National Secretary, citing the court’s ruling as validation of his claim.
Legal experts have cautioned the party leadership against actions that could lead to the invalidation of certain party functions should Anyanwu continue to perform duties as National Secretary despite the judgment.
Currently, the party’s NWC is in observance of its end-of-year break, with activities scheduled to resume fully after the holidays.
