PDP National Secretary Dispute Deepens After Supreme Court Ruling

The internal tussle over who rightfully holds the position of national secretary of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has escalated in the wake of a Supreme Court judgment this week. The feud began when Senator Samuel Anyanwu, having won the Imo State governorship primary, left the secretary’s post vacant. In his absence, the party’s South-east Caucus appointed former national youth leader Sunday Udeh-Okoye to fill the role.

Upon returning after his primary defeat, Anyanwu moved to reclaim the secretary’s seat but was prevented by a faction led by Chief Ali Odefa, the PDP’s Deputy National Chairman for the South-east. That dispute gave rise to litigation, culminating in a December 2024 Court of Appeal ruling in Enugu that affirmed Udeh-Okoye’s appointment.

Dissatisfied, Anyanwu appealed to the Supreme Court. In its recent judgment, the apex court quashed the lower court’s decision in Udeh-Okoye’s favor but stopped short of naming a new officeholder. Instead, it emphasized that internal party organs are empowered to resolve leadership questions.

Rather than bring clarity, the Supreme Court’s directive has further polarized the party. Supporters of Anyanwu argue that with the Enugu judgment overturned, he remains the de facto secretary. Conversely, backers of Udeh-Okoye interpret the ruling as a mandate for the PDP to select its own candidate, urging the South-east Caucus to reconvene and endorse their choice.

Concerned by the stalemate, PDP governors have stepped in. They have appointed Deputy National Secretary Setonji Koshoedo as acting national secretary until the party’s internal dispute is resolved. The move is intended to maintain administrative continuity, even as each camp insists on its own interpretation of the court’s findings.