National Secretary: PDP Commends Apex Court for Reaffirming Party Supremacy, Insists Anyanwu Is Gone

By Adesina Soyooye

The National Working Committee, NWC, has applauded the Supreme Court for its Friday ruling in the tussle as to who really is the Party’s National Secretary between Senator Samuel Anyanwu and Hon. Udeh-Okoye.

The PDP has been embroiled in a legal tussle over the office. Anyanwu, the elected National Secretary of the Party ran into trouble when he came back to reclaim the office he vacated when he embarked on his ill-fated contest for the Governorship seat of Imo State. Anyanwu was roundly trounced by the incumbent Senator Hope Uzodimma.

In Anyanwu’s absence, the Party chose Udeh-Okoye to hold fort. On his return return, a lot of water had already passed under the bridge. The NWC and the South-east Zone, as well as the PDP Governors’ Forum, insisted on the continuation of Udeh-Okoye as Secretary.

Anyanwu proceeded to Court which continued to the Supreme Court. On Friday, March 21, 2025, the Apex Court ruled that it does not interfere in the internal affairs of Political Parties and asked the PDP to sort its problems out relying on its constitution.

This ruling has not solved the problem as Anyanwu is claiming victory, hinging his claim on the Party’s Constitution. However, in a statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary of the Party,  Hon. Debo Ologunagba, the Party hailed the Supreme Court for affirming Party supremacy.

The meaning:  It is now the job of the Party to either ask Anyanwu to continue, or sack him, as they already did, for Udeh-Okoye. The bottom line however, is: What does the PDP Constitution say?

Following is PDP’s reaction to the Apex Court’s ruling as signed by Olugunagba.

“The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) @OfficialPDPNig has received the Judgment of the Supreme Court which affirmed that the issue of Party leadership positions, including that of the National Secretary is entirely an internal affair of the Party requiring only the Party internal mechanism to which the courts have no jurisdiction.

“Today’s judgment of the Supreme Court reaffirms the standing position of the Party and emphatically settles the emergence of Rt. Hon. SKE Udeh Okoye as the substantiative National Secretary of the PDP having been duly nominated, endorsed and ratified through the internal mechanism of the PDP statutory Organs and bodies in line with provisions of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017).

“For clarity, the NWC at its 576th meeting held on the 11th of October, 2023, directed the South East Zonal Executive Committee to nominate a replacement for Senator Samuel Anyanwu upon Senator Anyanwu’s nomination as the governorship candidate of the PDP to contest the November 2023 Governorship election in Imo State.

“Consequent upon the directive of the NWC, the South East Zonal Executive Committee at its meeting held on the 20th of October 2023 passed a resolution approving the emergence and forwarding of the name of Rt. Hon. SKE Udeh Okoye to the NWC as the National Secretary of the Party.

“Accordingly, the NWC at its 577th meeting held on 7th of November 2023 pursuant to its powers under the PDP Constitution, duly received, deliberated upon, accepted and approved the emergence of Rt. Hon. SKE Udeh Okoye as the National Secretary of the Party, which appointment has also since been endorsed by relevant Organs and bodies of the PDP including the Board of Trustees (BoT), South East Zonal Caucus, the PDP Governors’ Forum and officially communicated to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the general public.

“The PDP commends the Supreme Court for upholding the principle of the supremacy of the Party in the management of its internal affairs, describing it as victory for democracy.

“The NWC urges all patriotic members of the PDP to remain united as we work together to move our great Party forward.”