From Victor Osula, Abuja
Less than a week after the Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum, last Friday, asked the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) to respect the appeal court judgement sacking Senator Samuel Anyanwu, as National Secretary, the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), on Wednesday, endorsed Sunday Udeh-Okoye, as the substantive National Secretary of the party.
The appellate court sitting in Enugu had earlier declared Udo-Okoye as the authentic national secretary of the PDP.
While the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal countered the Enugu Division and ordered a stay of execution of the Enugu judgement, it also ordered the parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum pending the determination of an appeal purportedly filed by Anyanwu at the Supreme Court.
The court orders have since polarised the party further, as both are currently engaged in superiority fight over who should preside as party scribe henceforth.
Thugs and supporters on both sides exchanged blows last week at the BoT meeting in Abuja.
Rising from an emergency meeting held on Wednesday, at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, the BoT, led by Senator Adolphus Wabara, recognised Udeh-Okoye as the substantive National Secretary of the PDP following the consideration and adoption of recommendations of the report of a committee, led by Barr. Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN).
The board said its decision aligns with a declaratory judgement by the High Court of Enugu, which was upheld by the Court of Appeal. Consequently, the Board directed the NWC to immediately swear in. Udeh-Okoye in compliance with the court judgement.
A communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, said the BoT reaffirmed its role as a key organ of the party as enshrined under Section 13 (1)(r) of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017). The board also emphasised its authority under Section 32 (5)(a), which empowers it to ensure high standards of morality within the party and to call erring officers to order.
“The BoT praised the PDP Governors’ Forum, the NWC, and the South-East Executive Committee for their commitment to upholding the party’s constitution and operational guidelines.
“The BoT expressed satisfaction with the decision to hold the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on March 13, 2025, viewing it as a platform for critical deliberations shaping the party’s future.
“The BoT unanimously passed a vote of confidence on its Chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara, and Secretary, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, for their leadership in stabilising the party.
“The BoT urged all party members to remain united and work together to strengthen the PDP and reclaim its leadership position in the country”, the communiqué added.
