The Staff members of Nigeria’s main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), at the national headquarters in Abuja has publicly declared support for Udeh Okoye as the acting National Secretary.
In a press statement, the staff and management of the PDP national secretariat said they could no longer stay silent amid the confusion and legal battles surrounding the position of the party’s national secretary. According to PDP staff, the time has come to prioritize the survival and stability of the party over individual ambition.
“We believe that there is no sacrifice too high for an individual to make for the overall interest of our party,” the statement read, clearly referring to Senator Samuel Anyanwu, who has refused to relinquish the position despite contesting in the 2023 Imo State governorship election.
The PDP staff stressed that their decision is based on the clear endorsement of Udeh Okoye by key party organs including the National Working Committee (NWC), the Board of Trustees, and the PDP Governors’ Forum. They said Okoye’s emergence followed due process and reflected the will of the party, especially the Southeast zone, where the position is zoned.
“We align fully with the party leadership’s recognition of Udeh Okoye as Acting National Secretary. This is the most reasonable and lawful step at this point to restore order and confidence in our party,” the workers said.
The Supreme Court had earlier ruled that internal party positions must be resolved using the party’s mechanisms—not through the courts. This ruling effectively voided previous court judgments and returned the matter to the party’s internal decision-making process. While Senator Anyanwu interprets this as a victory, the party’s leadership insists it validates Okoye’s position.
The PDP staff noted that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has also acknowledged Okoye as acting secretary and continues to accept official party correspondence bearing his signature.
Although they acknowledged Anyanwu’s past service to the party—from his days as a local government chairman to senator and national secretary—they urged him to step aside in the interest of peace and unity.
As the PDP prepares for its National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on May 27, 2025, the workers called on all leaders to rally behind Okoye and focus on rebuilding the party ahead of future elections.
“We remain loyal to the PDP and pledge our full commitment to its progress. It is time to put the party first,” the statement concluded.
