By John Audu.
Abuja, Nigeria – The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is facing a deepening leadership crisis as its embattled National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, resumed office at the party’s national headquarters in Abuja on Monday. This move comes despite the PDP Governors’ Forum endorsing Sunday Ude-Okoye as the party’s scribe and directing the National Working Committee (NWC) to implement a Court of Appeal ruling confirming Ude-Okoye’s position.
Anyanwu’s return to office has further intensified the internal turmoil plaguing the PDP, which has been struggling with instability both before and after the 2023 general elections. The party’s internal conflicts and deep divisions have hampered efforts to find lasting solutions.
The PDP Governors’ Forum, led by Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, affirmed Ude-Okoye as the National Secretary, citing the Appeal Court’s judgment. They instructed the NWC to enforce the ruling, further escalating the already tense situation.
This latest development follows a complex series of legal battles and internal disputes surrounding the National Secretary position. In 2023, the South East zone of the party nominated a replacement for Anyanwu, who had become the party’s gubernatorial candidate in Imo State. This nomination led to a factional struggle, with the South East group demanding Anyanwu’s resignation from his secretarial role.
The legal tussle culminated in a December 2024 Appeal Court ruling in Enugu that favored Ude-Okoye, with official communication sent to the party leadership. However, the situation took another twist when the Court of Appeal in Abuja issued a restraining order in January 2025, instructing Anyanwu to remain in office pending a final decision from the Supreme Court.
Tensions flared last week when Anyanwu’s supporters forcibly removed Ude-Okoye from a Board of Trustees meeting, requiring security intervention. Subsequently, the PDP governors distanced themselves from Anyanwu and endorsed Ude-Okoye as the National Secretary during a meeting in Asaba, Delta State.
Anyanwu, in a petition to the Inspector General of Police, the Supreme Court, and the Appeal Court, maintains his claim to the National Secretary position. He has described the governors’ support for Ude-Okoye as a call for crisis and has requested their intervention.
The PDP’s acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, has also faced criticism for the party’s ongoing struggles. He assumed the role after Iyorchia Ayu, the former National Chairman, was removed by the court for failing to implement necessary reforms.
The party’s leadership crisis remains unresolved, with both Anyanwu and Ude-Okoye claiming the National Secretary position. The ongoing legal battles and internal divisions continue to threaten the party’s stability and its ability to effectively function. The next steps and the Supreme Court’s eventual ruling will be crucial in determining the future leadership of the PDP.
