Enugu — Tensions are rising within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the South-East Zonal Executive Committee has threatened to reconsider its relationship with the party if Sunday Ude-Okoye is not promptly ratified as the National Secretary.
The warning followed a zonal meeting held in Enugu, convened after the PDP National Working Committee (NWC), at its 600th meeting on April 29, 2025, directed the South-East to nominate a replacement for the vacant position. The zone reaffirmed its nomination of Ude-Okoye, insisting it must be honoured without further delay.
“We hope that this time around, the South-East PDP’s position is accorded the urgency it deserves. If not, the zone will be compelled to reconsider its relationship with the party,” the communiqué warned.
Ali Odefa, PDP’s National Vice Chairman (South-East), read the communiqué, which cited the Supreme Court’s March 21 ruling affirming that party leadership issues are internal and beyond the jurisdiction of courts or INEC.
The PDP Governors’ Forum had also recommended that the South-East nominate a candidate to complete the secretary’s tenure, which is zoned to the region.
Prominent leaders from the South-East, including Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah, PDP Board of Trustees Chairman Adolphus Wabara, and former Imo State Governor Achike Udenwa, backed the zone’s tough stance. They accused the national leadership of undermining the region and ignoring its rightful input.
However, the PDP’s internal divisions were further exposed when party staff threw their support behind the NWC and the PDP Governors’ Forum’s recognition of Deputy National Secretary Setonji Koshoedo as the acting National Secretary.
Speaking on behalf of 83 staff members at a press briefing in Abuja, PDP Director of Administration Gurama Bawa raised concerns over the ongoing leadership disputes and endorsed Koshoedo’s interim role.
The battle over the secretary’s seat intensified after a lower court in December 2024 named Ude-Okoye as the rightful occupant of the position. Though the PDP leadership initially accepted the decision, former National Secretary Senator Samuel Anyanwu challenged the ruling.
The Supreme Court dismissed Anyanwu’s appeal in March 2025, affirming that political party leadership disputes should remain internal.
Despite the legal closure, the PDP’s failure to act on the South-East zone’s nomination continues to fuel discontent, exposing deeper cracks in the party’s fragile unity since its 2023 electoral defeat.
