By Abiola Olawale
Following internal turmoil that has continued to beset the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and determined to address the lingering ussues, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party on Wednesday officially recognized and confirmed Hon. Sunday Udeh-Okoye as the substantive National Secretary of the party.
This decision was made during the NWC meeting on Wednesday, February 12, 2025, after an examination of a memo presented by the Acting National Chairman, Ambassador Iliya Damagum, regarding legal judgments affirming Udeh-Okoye’s position.
The development comes after a leadership tussle over the National Secretaryship position, which has been a protracted battle between Senator Samuel Anyanwu, an ally of Nyesom Wike and Hon. Sunday Udeh-Okoye, who enjoys the support of Adolphus Wabara and PDP governors.
The crisis began following conflicting court rulings and political manoeuvring within the party, with Udeh-Okoye securing judicial backing from the Enugu State High Court and the Court of Appeal in Enugu, affirming him as the rightful occupant of the office.
Meanwhile, a statement issued on Wednesday by PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, stated that the PDP has sent its resolution to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other relevant bodies for recognition, in accordance with the Court of Appeal’s judgment.
The statement read in part: “The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at its meeting today, Wednesday, February 12, 2025, extensively considered the memo dated 11th February 2025, presented by the Acting National Chairman on the issue of the National Secretary of the PDP.
“The NWC, in considering the memo, thoroughly examined the attached documents, namely, the declaratory judgment of the High Court of Enugu, the judgment of the Court of Appeal, Enugu Division, which pronounced and declared Rt. Hon. S.K.E Udeh Okoye as the National Secretary of the PDP; the legal opinion and advice by Dr. Kabiru T. Turaki SAN as well as that of the National Legal Adviser of the PDP.
“After due consideration of the memo and the attachments, the NWC overwhelmingly recognises, acknowledges and confirms Rt. Hon. S.K.E Udeh Okoye, as the substantive National Secretary of the PDP, is in full compliance with and obedience to the judgment of the Court of Appeal, recognising that there is no subsisting or superseding judgment or order from any court of superior authority or hierarchy.
“The NWC has commenced the transmission of its resolution/decision affirming Rt. Hon. S.K.E Udeh Okoye as the PDP National Secretary to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other relevant bodies for recognition in line with the judgment of the Court of Appeal.”
