The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has officially affirmed Sunday Ude-Okoye as its National Secretary, following a Court of Appeal ruling.
The confirmation puts an end to the leadership tussle between Ude-Okoye and Senator Samuel Anyanwu over the position.
Speaking on Tuesday at the PDP national secretariat in Abuja, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, emphasized the PDP’s commitment to upholding the rule of law.
He confirmed that the party had received the Court of Appeal judgment and would fully comply with the decision.
“We are a rule-of-law-compliant party. After consulting with the office of the legal adviser, it was confirmed that we have received the judgment of the two appeals affirming Rt. Hon. S.K.E. Ude-Okoye as the National Secretary of the party.
“As a responsible political organization, we believe in the finality of judicial pronouncements and have always respected court decisions. We will take the appropriate steps to ensure full compliance with the Court of Appeal’s ruling, as it represents the highest judgment on this matter,” Ologunagba said.
The Court of Appeal judgment, delivered on December 20, 2024, by the Enugu Division, upheld an earlier decision by an Enugu High Court affirming Ude-Okoye’s nomination as the National Secretary of the PDP.
The leadership crisis began after the South East chapter of the PDP nominated Ude-Okoye, a former National Youth Leader, as a replacement for Anyanwu in 2023.
This decision followed Anyanwu’s emergence as the party’s gubernatorial candidate for the 2023 Imo State guber election.
Party leaders from the South East maintained that Anyanwu ceased to hold the position of National Secretary once he was nominated as the PDP’s standard bearer in the Imo State governorship contest.
Ologunagba reiterated the party’s position on the matter, stating, “The judgment of the Court of Appeal affirms Rt. Hon. S.K.E. Ude-Okoye as the rightful National Secretary of the PDP.
“We are bound by this decision, and we will take all necessary actions to implement it as required by law.”