The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is no stranger to internal crises, but the current battle for its national secretary position has taken center stage, with Samuel Anyanwu and Sunday Ude-Okoye both claiming the title.
Amidst the turmoil, Anyanwu is standing his ground, asserting that he remains the authentic national secretary despite a court ruling that named Ude-Okoye as his replacement.
Speaking on Nigeria Right Now, a current affairs program anchored by Dickson Iroegbu on Thursday, Anyanwu firmly declared, “As we speak today, I’m still the national secretary of PDP.”
His confidence stems from a series of legal battles, ongoing appeals, and court orders, which have plunged the party deeper into a crisis of leadership.
The controversy began when Anyanwu became the PDP’s gubernatorial candidate for Imo State in 2023. The party’s southeast zonal executive committee subsequently nominated Ude-Okoye to replace him as national secretary, citing a rule that Anyanwu should have resigned before vying for the governorship.
Anyanwu fought back, obtaining court injunctions to block his removal. However, on December 20, 2024, the Court of Appeal in Enugu dismissed those injunctions, ruling in favor of Ude-Okoye and ordering Anyanwu’s removal. The court’s judgment also imposed a N1 million cost against Anyanwu’s team.
Read Also: Nigeria, China plot collaboration on military training, arms production
But the battle didn’t end there. Anyanwu immediately appealed the ruling to the Supreme Court and filed for a stay of execution, effectively putting the appeal court’s judgment on hold.
“The appeal court is not the highest court,” he explained. “What does that mean? It means the status quo should remain.”
Anyanwu cited a federal high court ruling affirming his tenure as national secretary until December 2025. “As long as I was elected by convention, my position is sacrosanct,” he insisted, dismissing any notion that his role had been invalidated.
He downplayed the suggestion of a faction within the PDP, asserting that the party remains united under the leadership of Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum. “There is no faction in PDP,” Anyanwu said, painting Ude-Okoye’s claims as premature and lacking legal standing.
Ude-Okoye, emboldened by the appeal court’s decision, has begun parading himself as the legitimate national secretary. For many observers, this public power struggle is emblematic of deeper divisions within the PDP.
The leadership contest not only threatens to distract the party from its opposition role but also risks alienating its members and supporters.
The post Battle for PDP National Secretary seat heats up as Anyanwu, Ude-Okoye claim position appeared first on Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from Ripples Nigeria.