The long-awaited National Working Committee (NWC) meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), presided over by Acting National Chairman Umar Damagun, concluded on Wednesday with a dramatic shift in the party’s power structure.
In a decisive move, thirteen NWC members voted to officially recognise Sunday Ude-Okoye as the party’s substantive National Secretary, while five members abstained. Ousted former secretary Samuel Anyanwu failed to secure a single vote, marking a resounding rejection by the party’s leadership—including Damagun himself.
According to party insiders, Anyanwu’s activities had become an embarrassment, prompting his swift removal from the official NWC WhatsApp group and the immediate inclusion of Ude-Okoye as the “authentic” secretary.
A source within the party alleged that Anyanwu, a known ally of Minister Nyesom Wike and an alleged sympathizer of the All Progressives Congress (APC), had been making desperate attempts to stall the transition. He was accused of using a proxy, 2023 Labour Party House of Representatives candidate Austin Nwachukwu—who still parades as Imo PDP Chairman despite being a Labour Party member—to file a secret injunction at the Federal High Court against the PDP NWC and NEC.
SaharaReporters has learned that the NWC is now transmitting its decision to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for official recognition of Ude-Okoye’s appointment.
Reacting to the development, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, spokesperson for the Coalition of Opposition Lawmakers, described the decision as a “welcome development.” He argued that it demonstrated the PDP’s ability to avert crises instigated by individuals acting “under the influence of plots of land and petty cash.”
Ude-Okoye’s recognition by the NWC aligns with an earlier resolution by the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), which had, on February 5, officially declared him the legitimate National Secretary. The BoT had also urged the NWC to swear him into office without delay.
The emergency BoT meeting, held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja, was attended by key party figures, including BoT Chairman Senator Adolphus Wabara, BoT Secretary Senator Ahmed Makarfi, and former governors Achike Udenwa, Sam Egwu, and Babangida Aliyu. At the meeting, the BoT reviewed legal documents submitted by both Anyanwu and Ude-Okoye, ultimately ruling in favor of the latter.
Meanwhile, BoT Chairman Wabara praised PDP governors for pushing the NWC to hold its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in March, emphasizing the need for stability. He also cited last week’s violence as a reason for suspending meetings at the party’s national secretariat, Wadata Plaza, until security was fully restored.
Despite Ude-Okoye’s confirmation, the battle for the PDP Secretary position has deepened internal rifts, with Anyanwu refusing to back down. The clash has fueled tensions within the party, exposing fault lines between rival factions and raising concerns about the party’s ability to unite ahead of future political battles.
As the PDP navigates its latest leadership crisis, the question remains: Can the party close ranks and move forward, or will internal divisions continue to threaten its stability?
PIONEER NEWS 