₦airaland Forum

Two factional secretaries, Sunday Ude-Okoye and Samuel Anyanwu, are planning to resume their duties on Monday (today), which could lead to an escalation of the crisis inside the Peoples Democratic Party.

The PDP National Headquarters, Wadata Plaza, Abuja, is where Ude-Okoye and Anyanwu would be returning to their responsibilities today, as they informed The Bureau Newspaper in separate interviews on Sunday.

Despite a recent ruling by the Court of Appeal affirming Okoye as the PDP national secretary, Anyanwu, the former scribe, has refused to acknowledge the verdict and maintains his status as the officially recognized party secretary.

Because of this new information, the party is even more divided, with high-ranking officials now siding with one of the two guys.

The results showed that the National Working Committee is even more divided as a result of this event; certain governors and at least 12 NWC members are now siding with Ude-Okoye, while others are still loyal to Anyanwu.

Many in the opposition party have held Umar Damagum, the Acting National Chairman, to blame for the problems that have plagued the party since the 2023 election. Damagum is an ally of the former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike.

Every level and structure of the party has been profoundly affected by the crisis.

The most recent controversy arose in 2023, when Anyanwu was chosen as the party's candidate for the governorship of Imo State, and the South-East zone nominated Ude-Okoye, who had previously served as the national youth leader, to succeed him.

Since Anyanwu had stepped forward to run for the Imo governorship, the South-East PDP leadership said that he could no longer serve as national secretary.

Two conflicting court decisions emerged from the legal challenges against Ude-nomination Okoye's for national secretary.

The nomination of Ude-Okoye to succeed Anyanwu was earlier confirmed by the Enugu High Court, and this decision was affirmed by the Court of Appeal on December 20, 2024.

On December 31, 2024, with the judgment in hand, Okoye made his way to the party headquarters in Abuja to officially take office.

The PDP National Secretariat, however, is off-limits to all party officials and journalists until January 13, per Anyanwu's instruction.

As a result of this turn of events, the factional secretaries' followers were on the verge of violently clashing with one another.

Another party official loyal to the deposed national secretary, Emmanuel Okoronkwo, attacked Ndubuisi Orji, a reporter for The SUN, during the event.

Ude-Okoye told our reporter that he is the legitimate national secretary according to the decision of the appellate court.

By stressing that the NWC is united, the factional secretary ruled out the prospect of a confrontation.

“Now, if someone truly loves the party, would they plan to destroy it?” Ude-Okoye asked in response to inquiries over an alleged threat to harm party leaders over the tussle. Would they try to disperse the party's secretariat? Who would want to try to depose the national secretary if they knew they were in that position?

The onus is on the one hatching the plot to provide an explanation. Dancing nude in the market with a crazy person would drive me crazy, too.

Everyone can tell when someone is genuinely trying to hurt something or is actually right. I do not take on the role of an agent when another person does. Belong to the PDP, I am. I have held and will continue to hold the position of national secretary. Nothing in the PDP will ever be destroyed by me.

The former youth leader told The Bureau Newspaper that he will let his Sunday night meeting with party leaders determine his week's agenda.

Nevertheless, he reiterated his commitment to his role as secretary and promised to be present at the party headquarters today in case of an emergency.

This evening, I have a meeting scheduled with the party leaders, and the agenda for the upcoming week will be shaped by that. "I will be in the office whenever I need to," he said, adding that he has resumed his duties.

After requesting a court-ordered stay of execution, Anyanwu maintained his position as secretary.

Anyanwu expressed concerns about potential violence by confirming in an exclusive interview with our reporter that he will resume today.
"Clearly, they understand that a stay of execution signifies that the status quo is maintained," he said. It's not worth discussing.

Tomorrow (today), the celebration will continue, and I intend to head directly to my workplace. Would you mind if I said that I want to go back to work? "If I want to resume," I'll say.

Anyanwu stated, "Most important to me is our party, the PDP," in response to inquiries over the likelihood of a confrontation. I have taken this matter to the highest court in the land, and this side is all about the law. Thanks to the stay of execution, we can get back to work and bring everyone back together in our celebration.

Everything here is related to the year 2027. Everyone should relax; authority is bestowed by God alone.

In his comments on the matter, Adolphus Wabara, chairman of the PDP board of trustees, stressed the need to comply with the court's ruling in order to avoid chaos.

If somebody is unhappy with the decision, the former president of the Senate says they should appeal to the Supreme Court, and he also confirms that the Board of Trade was aware of what was happening with the national secretary's office.

The Board of Trade has been informed, he said. The rule of law has our full support, and we shall comply with the ruling. We shall follow the verdict regardless of how we feel about it; we shall not question its validity.

It is imperative that all court orders be followed. To prevent anarchy, we shall comply with any opposing verdict that comes tomorrow. When it comes to constitutional issues, the PDP is on the side of the law.

In order to prevent additional complications, I urge all members of the party to comply with the ruling. Everyone involved must adhere to this (Appeal Court verdict) until the Supreme Court issues a new ruling.

Ude-Okoye is still the party secretary, according to PDP National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba, who made the statement in response to the Enugu verdict of the Appeal Court.

No stay of execution is known to the PDP, according to Ologunagba, who characterized the party as law-abiding.

After being briefed, the NWC, governors, and Board of Trustees all acknowledged Ude-Okoye as the party scribe, he said.

We are executing the judgment," Ologunagba stated. Ude-Okoye has been announced as a member of the Board of Trustees and the Governors Forum.

As previously stated, we are obligated to comply with the verdict. The decision is crystal apparent to us as a party. As a party that adheres to the rule of law, PDP will obey the judgment. Tomorrow, if any court processes direct differently, we will comply with them.

No stay of execution has been granted to the party as of the time we are speaking. The party has not received any opposite information, and that is the current situation as we speak.

"Anybody who is truly a party man, who believes in the rule of law and respects court judgments, would, in the interest of peace and justice, abide by the judgment," Ologunagba said in response to a query regarding a potential conflict today. Therefore, no one should ever try to help themselves; instead, we should always do the right thing.

This side will follow the ruling regardless of what others say or do since we lack the authority to overturn it. We shall also comply as a law-abiding party if another opposite ruling succeeds this.

At the same time, Diran Odeyemi, the former Deputy National Publicity Secretary, and Timothy Osadolor, the PDP's Deputy National Youth Leader, have both urged for calm.

Members of the National Executive Council cautioned that the party's issues may be worsened if the dispute was not managed correctly.

The topic is a severe issue that, if not handled correctly, might escalate into a complex one," Osadolor told our reporter. Having said that, I can guarantee you that a showdown will not occur.

Having internal structures and mechanisms makes the PDP a really organic party, you know. It is, most importantly, a law-abiding party. Thus, the matter is unambiguous. No confrontation is imminent.

Well, I must admit that I am a part of the NWC. However, I am really fed up with the constant drama happening within the NWC. I believe the NWC should find a way to end the fighting within our party and, by extension, our nation if we are unable to work together as a unit.

I have no idea who or what those members are fighting for or whose interests they are protecting; the fact is that they are still fighting. But if we really think we are speaking for all Nigerians, we ought to pull together and assist the country's progress.

"Everyone in the party needs to pull together now," Odeyemi said as he filed a peace suit. Carelessness with the national secretary issue could lead to a worsening of the party's crisis.

Taking into account the judgment's interpretations and ramifications, my greatest recommendation is that both sides adhere to the Constitution's line of reasoning. Please, I beg you, put an end to the tension inside the PDP and work toward a peaceful resolution.

Source: The Bureau Newspaper

yeye party

And they want to wrestle power from the APC with this agbero kind of attitude?

Their impending loss is certified in heaven and on earth. E go too loud

With Wike in charge, PDP is as good as gone. Factions not loyal to Wike should break away and merge with other political parties. Else, it's gonna be a sweet ride for Tinubu and the APC in 2027.

Na wa

See party that wants to win 2027 presidential election...they are not even serious

See people wey wan rule Nigeria
Atiku sef too funny
Ordinary political party, you cannot put in order, it is the country that you want to govern.....
Same thing for OBI TEGWOLO too.
GBAJUE demmmmmm

Hmm. Apc just smiling. The loss go too loud next election

gigabyte13:
See people wey wan rule Nigeria
Atiku sef too funny
Ordinary political party, you cannot put in order, it is the country that you want to govern.....
Same thing for OBI TEGWOLO too.
GBAJUE demmmmmm

yeye. Is OBI in pdp?? Abi don't you reason before typing

When will the people of this party get sense, allow common sense to prevail and listen to the voice of reason heed the voice of reason. Get their affairs in order, get the house together rally round each other.Inshort l no fit talk again l don drop mic

PDP try and settle your issues, problems, fight.. for this issues, problems in your party will make many of your PDP members to defect to APC including your PDP governors also

OP, kindly check this out and issue a disclaimer!!! Abeg o!!!!

Always fighting sha!

APC has finally killed all opposition. I pity PO more because I wonder which party he will go next

Without looted money and power, PDP is nothing.
It's safe to say the PDP is gone.
So far so long for the establishment of criminality..
The best Fubara can do at this point is to decamp to the APC, otherwise his second term bid is DOA. Wike ultimate assignment is to bury the PDP.

Timagex:
OP, kindly check this out and issue a disclaimer!!! Abeg o!!!!

Maybe na prophesy

Ude-Okoye is the PDP national secretary as of this moment. Make Anyanwu relax till supreme court give judgement.

NikoWinaman:
APC has finally killed all opposition. I pity PO more because I wonder which party he will go next

He should just retire to his family and live a peaceful life ever after.Nigeria's political space is not for people like him.
If people like Bukolq Saraki that was born into aristocratic political family can be humbled, i wondered the chance PO has.
A word is enough for the wise.

..and you'd think it's for the interest of the party or the country! But we all know it's their pockets they're fighting for.

Umbrella satanic party

SatoshiX:
He should just retire to his family and live a peaceful life ever after.Nigeria's political space is not for people like him.
If people like Bukolq Saraki that was born into aristocratic political family can be humbled, i wondered the chance PO has.
A word is enough for the wise.

His supporters are very unintelligent to see the truth you have said. He himself is very unwise to keep depending on social media hype when he knows he has no chance in the reality on ground. Even his running mate in the last election has humbled himself to the reality on ground. It's a shame to still see people supporting a man like PO honestly. This is not about trube

Untill the matter is s finally settled by the supreme court, Sam Anyanwu remains the secretary.

Editorialtimes:
Source: The Bureau Newspaper

SatoshiX:
Continue living in fantasy land. The south has been the soul of the PDP for so many years and now you think they will work against the interest of the same South? Touch grass Obinna.

Believe Bureau newspaper at your own peril,Adekunle!

Clemss88:
yeye. Is OBI in pdp?? Abi don't you reason before typing

Shebi l don mention your Messiah
Your brain done rough
Shey......
As your Messiah been able to stabilize his LABORERS PARTY.....
ROUGH BRAIN

This is what greed does to a political party. Everybody wants power, they all want to run for office. Once they don't get the ticket, they start to break in to fractions.