The South-East zone of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has taken a firm stance against the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) regarding the position of the national secretary.
The zone’s leadership, citing the PDP constitution and a valid court order, called on the NWC and other party organs to ratify Hon. Sunday Udeh-Okoye as the rightful National Secretary.
Expressing their discontent with the party’s treatment of the South-East region, despite its historical support, PDP leaders in the zone emphasized that they would no longer tolerate delays in confirming Udeh-Okoye’s appointment. They made it clear that the South-East would not be subservient to the party’s decisions.
The South-East Zonal Executive Committee and party leaders, led by Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State, PDP National Vice Chairman Chief Ali Odefa, and Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees Senator Adolphus Wabara, convened in Enugu to discuss the matter. Mbah, in his opening remarks, highlighted the region’s longstanding dedication to the PDP and emphasized the importance of respecting the zone’s decision.
Senator Adolphus Wabara, Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, expressed his deep concern over the disregard shown by the national leadership towards the South-East region. Addressing the attendees, Wabara lamented the mistreatment of the Igbo people and urged the meeting to reach a decisive resolution that would be duly enforced.
During the meeting, Chief Odefa read out the communiqué, which reaffirmed the decisions made in a previous meeting held on October 20, 2023. The communiqué stated that Senator Samuel Anyanwu, who had been parading himself as the National Secretary, had relinquished the position as per the PDP constitution and a court ruling. The South-East zone officially nominated S.K.E. Udeh-Okoye as Anyanwu’s replacement, in compliance with the party’s constitution.
The communiqué further highlighted the PDP’s clear guidelines regarding the resignation of elected national officers who aspire to contest elective offices. It noted that Senator Anyanwu had violated these guidelines by purchasing the Expression of Interest Form and Nomination Form, participating in the primaries, and becoming the PDP candidate in the Imo State governorship election. The South-East zone emphasized that Senator Anyanwu’s resignation was automatic, as per the party’s constitution and guidelines, and also pointed out that a court of competent jurisdiction had recognized Udeh-Okoye as the National Secretary.
The South-East zone called upon the PDP NWC and other party organs to acknowledge S.K.E. Udeh-Okoye as the legitimate National Secretary of the party. The communiqué urged all stakeholders, including the PDP NWC, PDP Governors’ Forum, PDP Board of Trustees, and PDP National Assembly Caucus, to align with the party’s constitution and previous practices in filling vacancies within the leadership. The South-East leaders emphasized the need to uphold the zone’s nomination in order to prevent external forces from destabilizing the party.
The communiqué was signed by prominent figures such as former governors Achike Udenwa, Sam Egwu, and Emeka Ihedioha, former PDP National Chairman Okwesilieze Nwodo, Senate Minority Whip Senator Osita Ngwu, and members of the PDP Board of Trustees Mrs. Josephine Anenih, Ambassador Justina Eze, and Dame Rita Mbah.