NewsNigeriaPoliticsNational Secretary Position Threatens Party As South East PDP Re-Nominates Udeh Okoye

The lingering contention for the position of the National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, threatens her unity as the Party’s South East Zonal Executive Committee endorsing S.K.E Udeh Okoye as their nominee warns that if the nomination is not promptly implemented, they may reconsider their relationship with the Party.

The contention started after Senator Samuel Anyanwu on April 12, 2023 as National Secretary contested and won the nomination as the candidate of the PDP for November 11, 2023 Governorship election in Imo state.

On the 20^th of October, 2023, the South East Zonal chapter then passed a resolution and forwarded the name of S.K.E Udeh Okoye to the National Working Committee, NWC, as replacement for Senator Anyanwu with the belief that upon the nomination of Senator Anyanwu as the Gubrnatorial candidate of PDP, he has automatically resigned his position as the National Secretary.

This resulted to litigations but a landmark judgment delivered on March 21, 2025 affirms that issue of party positions is an internal affair of the party requiring only the party internal mechanism to which the court has no jurisdiction.

Hence the PDP Governor’s Forum at its meeting on Monday April 14^th 2025 in Ibadan, Oyo state capital reiterated its position endorsing Udeh Okoye as National Secretary.

However, they recommended that in light of the Supreme Court judgment, the Deputy National Secretary, Arch Setonji Koshoedo should act as the National Secretary pending the nomination and ratification of a substantive National Secretary from the South East Zone and National Executive Committee respectively at its next meeting; this is in accordance with section 36 (2) of the PDP constitution.

In light of their recommendation adopted by the NWC in its 600^th meeting held on April 29, 2025 the South East Zonal Executive Committee held her meeting on Wednesday 14^th May, 2025 at the Government House in Enugu State and nominated S.K.E Udeh Okoye for the position of National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party.

The National Vice-Chairman, Dr. Ali Odefa announced the nomination of Udeh Okoye in a communiqué issued at the meeting.

The South East ZEC further urges the NWC to uphold its decision and ensure that the Deputy National Secretary continues to function as the Acting National Secretary pending the ratification of their nominee-S.K.E Udeh Okoye.

“We hope that this time around, the position of the South East PDP regarding the office of the National Secretary is accorded the honor and immediacy it deserves. This would bring to a closure the needless lingering dispute over the matter.”

“However, in the event that our position is not promptly implemented by the Party, the South East PDP, as a family, will be compelled to reconsider our relationship with the PDP going forward.”

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Ije Ulasi (Regional Correspondent)

Ije Ulasi is WAP’s Senior Regional Correspondent based in Eastern Nigeria. She is a seasoned journalist and writer coordinating regional events about community, the government, and politics. Ulasi's in-depth knowledge of the region and her strong network of sources allow her to provide comprehensive coverage of important issues affecting Eastern Nigeria.

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