The internal crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took another turn as the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT) threw its weight behind the state governors’ choice, appoints the former National Youth Leader of the Party, Sunday Udeh-Okoye as the new Secretary of the party, a move that has sparked fresh controversy within the camp of Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike. Meanwhile, the governors, who wield significant influence within the party, have been advocating for a candidate of their choice, sidelining Wike’s faction in the process.
With Wike’s loyalists, headed by Senator Samuel Anyanwu expressing strong opposition to the stance taken by the BoT. Anyanwu, who previously held the position before contesting the Imo State governorship election, dismissed the BoT’s decision, arguing that most of its members’ tenures expired in October 2024, rendering their endorsement invalid.
The controversy deepened after BoT Chairman and former Senate President, Adolphus Wabara, declared that the trustees had carefully reviewed the Tanimu Turaki-led committee report and upheld the Appeal Court ruling that confirmed Ude-Okoye as National Secretary.
The PDP has struggled with internal divisions since before the 2023 general elections, with leadership disputes contributing to instability. The conflict over the National Secretary position began when the South East PDP caucus nominated Ude-Okoye to replace Anyanwu, following his governorship bid. However, Anyanwu’s supporters opposed the move, insisting he remained the rightful officeholder.
On December 20, 2024, the Appeal Court in Enugu ruled in favor of Ude-Okoye, and the decision was formally communicated to the party on December 24. Despite this, tensions boiled over on January 28, when Anyanwu’s loyalists forcefully removed Ude-Okoye from a BoT meeting, prompting security intervention.
Following the incident, PDP governors, led by Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, endorsed the court’s ruling, urging the National Working Committee (NWC) to implement it. The governors also distanced themselves from Anyanwu, reaffirming Ude-Okoye as the legitimate National Secretary during a meeting in Asaba, Delta State.
Undeterred, Anyanwu petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, the Supreme Court, and the Appeal Court on February 1, insisting he remained National Secretary. He accused the PDP governors of fueling the crisis and called for judicial intervention.
“The BoT’s position is unfortunate, especially when there is a stay of execution on the matter. Most of the BoT members’ tenure expired in October 2024. Their endorsement is not binding and holds no legal weight,” Anyanwu asserted.
He further claimed that the BoT had no constitutional authority to dictate party leadership decisions, emphasizing that the matter was now before the Supreme Court.
Despite Anyanwu’s resistance, Wabara defended the BoT’s decision, citing constitutional provisions that empower the board to act as the party’s conscience. He reaffirmed that the trustees had carefully examined all legal documents before making their decision.
“The BoT has inherent authority under Section 32 (5) (a) of the PDP Constitution to ensure the highest standards of morality in party activities. After extensive review, we recognize Hon. Sunday Udeh-Okoye as the substantive National Secretary in full compliance with the High Court of Enugu’s judgment, as upheld by the Appeal Court,” Wabara stated.
Additionally, the BoT commended the PDP Governors’ Forum and the NWC for setting March 13, 2025, as the date for the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, a crucial gathering expected to shape the party’s future.
The deepening crisis has prompted divided responses among PDP leaders. While some NWC and NEC members have urged Anyanwu to step down, others believe he should remain in office pending the Supreme Court’s final ruling.
Former PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, argued that Anyanwu should step aside in the party’s best interest.
“If Anyanwu truly has PDP’s interest at heart, he should obey the court ruling and allow the party to function without unnecessary distractions. The BoT and governors have spoken, and his refusal to step down will only worsen the crisis,” he said.
Conversely, Deputy National Youth Leader, Timothy Osadolor, accused the BoT of bias, insisting that the Supreme Court’s pending decision means Anyanwu remains National Secretary.
“The BoT should not take sides. Anyanwu has a legal stay of execution until the Supreme Court rules on the matter. This means he remains in office. Ignoring this is a serious legal misstep,” Osadolor stated.
Meanwhile, former Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Diran Odeyemi, urged the BoT and PDP Governors’ Forum to meet with Anyanwu and seek a peaceful resolution to the crisis.
With the March 13 NEC meeting approaching, PDP faces a crucial test in resolving its leadership conflict. The governors and BoT have made their stance clear, but Anyanwu’s resistance and ongoing court battle could prolong the crisis.
