The Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has officially endorsed Sunday Ude-Okoye as the substantive National Secretary of the party, resolving months of internal disputes over the position. The announcement was made by BoT Chairman and former Senate President, Adolphus Wabara, during the 80th meeting of the board held in Abuja on February 4, 2025. This decision aligns with the December 2024 Court of Appeal ruling, which upheld Ude-Okoye's legitimacy in the role.
The leadership crisis began when Ude-Okoye was nominated by the South-East PDP to replace Senator Samuel Anyanwu, who had contested for the Imo State governorship election. Despite the court's ruling in favor of Ude-Okoye, Anyanwu and his supporters resisted, even disrupting a recent BoT meeting where Ude-Okoye was forcibly removed before security intervened.
The BoT emphasized its constitutional role as the party's conscience and urged the National Working Committee (NWC) to immediately swear in Ude-Okoye in compliance with court judgments. The decision followed a comprehensive review by a committee chaired by Barr. Kabiru Turaki (SAN), which examined legal and constitutional aspects of the dispute.
Earlier, the PDP Governors Forum officially endorsed Sunday Ude-Okoye as the party's National Secretary, solidifying his position. This endorsement took place during a meeting of the PDP Governors Forum in Asaba, Delta State, on February 1, 2025. The governors' decision aligns with a recent ruling from the Court of Appeal in Enugu, which recognized Ude-Okoye as the legitimate National Secretary.
In their communique, signed by the Forum's chairman, Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, the governors expressed their support for the court's judgment and urged the National Working Committee (NWC) to implement it promptly. They also called for the rescheduling of the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting to March 13, 2025, to address ongoing issues within the party and ensure effective governance.
The BoT commended PDP governors for their support and noted that the upcoming National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on March 13, 2025, would be critical for addressing party challenges and shaping its future.
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