When the Judiciary Serves the PDP's Interests, It's Independent; When It Doesn't, It's Compromised

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is making headlines for all the wrong reasons, painting a picture of a party driven by self-interest and hypocrisy. The PDP's leaders seem to suffer from selective amnesia when it comes to their stance on the judiciary.

When court rulings favor the PDP's top dogs in the National Working Committee (NWC), they applaud the judiciary's independence and celebrate justice being served. But, when a judicial decision doesn't align with their agenda, they unleash a storm of criticism, accusing the courts of partiality, compromise, and injustice. It's a classic case of having your cake and eating it too.

This is the same party that repeatedly points fingers at the All Progressives Congress (APC), accusing them of trampling on the rule of law, disregarding court orders, and belittling judicial pronouncements. The PDP loves to position itself as the righteous alternative, a party that upholds the law, but reality tells a different story.

Recently, the PDP has found itself in a quagmire of constitutional, moral, ethical, and legal quandaries concerning its National Secretary position. In a baffling situation that defies logic, justice, and the party's own constitution, the PDP ended up in a situation where its National Secretary also doubled as its gubernatorial candidate. It's akin to a political party having its national chairman as the presidential candidate—a glaring conflict of interest.

To address this glaring anomaly, PDP leaders from the South East Zone, the zone designated for the National Secretary position, convened in their Zonal Executive Committee (ZEC) to remove Senator Samuel Nnaemeka Anyanwu from the National Secretary post. Their aim? To allow him to focus on running as the party's gubernatorial candidate in the Imo State governorship election. The South East Zone nominated Rt. Hon. SKE Udeh-Okoye as the replacement for the PDP National Secretary position, a move aimed at restoring the party's integrity.

Not content with this, the South East PDP leaders secured a court order, giving the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) a 24-hour deadline to recognize their nominee as the National Secretary. This court order was not a mere suggestion—it was a binding legal directive.

However, the PDP's response, or lack thereof, has been a shocking revelation of their disdain for the judiciary. Even though the PDP was legally represented when the court issued the amended order, the party has refused to obey it. Their actions have left many observers perplexed and have exposed their double standards.

Rumors now circulate that the current NWC, led by Umar Ililya Damagum, is intentionally stalling until November 11. Why? So that Senator Samuel Anyanwu can seamlessly return as the National Secretary after inevitably losing the Imo State governorship election. The PDP's subpar campaign efforts in Imo State, compared to the vigor displayed in Kogi and Bayelsa States, hint at this strategy.

The PDP's actions beg the question: Did Nigerians dodge a bullet by not electing them into power? It's clear that the PDP NWC, under Umar Ililya Damagum's leadership, has shown more disdain for our courts and judiciary than many would have thought possible. This highlights a deeply rooted issue within the party—disregard for the law and a willingness to bend or break the rules for their benefit.

In the realm of disrespect for the judiciary and disregard for court orders, the PDP has taken the lead over the APC. It's evident that the PDP is not the virtuous alternative they portray themselves to be. They stand exposed as a group of opportunists who conveniently flip-flop on principles depending on which way the wind blows.

Yunusa Iliyasu Santuraki
Writes in from Washington DC