As work resumes today following the Christmas and New Year holidays, stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are scrambling to prevent a potential showdown at the national secretariat.
This comes as the two rival claimants to the position of National Secretary – Sunday Ude-Okoye, recognised by an Appeal Court ruling, and Senator Sam Anyanwu, who has appealed the judgment – remain adamant about assuming the role, reports Nigerian Tribune.
Both Ude-Okoye and Anyanwu have declared their intentions to report for duty, refusing to step aside for the other.
This has raised fears among party stakeholders that their supporters could converge on the party’s headquarters at Wadata Plaza, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja, potentially leading to chaos.
Efforts are reportedly underway to defuse tensions and avoid any confrontation that could destabilize the party’s operations.
Party stakeholders are concerned that simultaneous appearances by both claimants could lead to confrontations, risking a breach of peace.
Keen to avoid possible clash, it was learnt, both Ude-Okoye and Anyanwu have come under pressure from some senior party members to press for their ambition with caution.
Tensions are already high in the party due to ongoing factional disputes, particularly stemming from unresolved leadership issues since the 2023 elections.
The leadership crisis in the main opposition party has now escalated as both Ude-Okoye and Anyanwu began to assert their claims to the office of national secretary.
The standoff, which has already divided members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) and Board of Trustees (BoT), threatens to destabilize the party as its national secretariat reopens.
Ude-Okoye, who was declared the substantive National Secretary by the Court of Appeal sitting in Enugu, has reportedly gained the support of some NWC members and BoT leaders.
Meanwhile, Anyanwu insists that he remains the legitimate office holder, citing his appeal of the court ruling to the Supreme Court as grounds for maintaining the status quo.
“I’m still the National Secretary. The status quo remains because I’m on appeal,” Anyanwu told our correspondent.
He added that Ude-Okoye, despite the court ruling, has no authority to assume the position.
“He’s educated enough to know that cannot be the case,” he said.
The Court of Appeal had ruled in favour of Ude-Okoye, affirming his nomination by the South East Zone of the PDP as Anyanwu’s replacement. The court’s decision followed Anyanwu’s initial resignation from the position to contest the Imo State governorship election.
After his defeat in the election, Anyanwu returned to reclaim the National Secretary post, arguing that there was no vacancy.
Ude-Okoye, however, maintains that his nomination and the subsequent court judgment affirm his legitimacy. He has been seen at the party’s Wadata Plaza secretariat during the holidays, signaling his intent to assume full control of the office.
The conflict raises critical questions about the PDP’s internal governance and adherence to its constitution. Senator Anyanwu has consistently argued that the Court of Appeal overstepped by interfering in what he considers internal party matters.
He asserts that Ude-Okoye failed to exhaust internal dispute resolution mechanisms before turning to the judiciary, a violation of the party’s constitutional processes.
Also, Anyanwu avers that leadership matters within a political party are not justiciable and questions the jurisdiction of the courts in this matter.
PDP National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba has stated that the party will abide by the rule of law.
He confirmed receipt of the Appeal Court judgment on December 24, 2024, affirming Ude-Okoye as National Secretary.
“We are a rule-of-law-compliant party. We believe in the finality of the judicial process. We’ve always respected judicial pronouncements, and we will always abide by this culture,” Ologunagba said.
As the PDP secretariat reopens today, both claimants are expected to take steps to consolidate their positions.
Ude-Okoye’s supporters are reportedly preparing for his formal assumption of office, while Anyanwu’s camp remains steadfast in maintaining his claim.
On the possible clash of both claimants at the national secretariat, the party spokesman said the idea was mere speculation.
However, he declined to comment on the implications of Anyanwu’s appeal to the Supreme Court, reiterating the party’s commitment to upholding judicial rulings.
The struggle for the National Secretary post is the latest in the series of crises besetting the main opposition party raising more concerns about the unity and future prospects of the PDP, particularly as it prepares for upcoming elections.
The internal rift between factions supporting Ude-Okoye and Anyanwu threatens to further undermine the party’s ability to present a united front to the electorate.
Party stakeholders are worried that the leadership tussle might alienate members and create divisions that could be exploited by political rivals.
