Photo caption: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) logo
The crisis within the opposition Peoples Democratic Party deepened on Wednesday as the South-East Zonal Caucus issued a stern warning of possible mass defections should the party continue to disregard its nomination of Sunday Udeh-Okoye as National Secretary.
This warning was contained in a communiqué read by Zonal Chairman, Chief Ali Odefa, after the Zonal Executive Committee meeting held at the Government House in Enugu.
Enugu State Governor and PDP leader in the zone, Dr Peter Mbah, called for unity, while PDP Board of Trustees Chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara, and former Imo State Governor, Chief Achike Udenwa, condemned what they described as sustained marginalisation of the region by the party.
The leadership tussle over the National Secretary position began after the 2023 general elections and escalated in December 2024 when a lower court and the South-East PDP caucus named former National Youth Leader, Sunday Udeh-Okoye, to the post.
Although the PDP governors, BoT, and National Working Committee initially accepted the ruling, Senator Samuel Anyanwu challenged it in court.
The Supreme Court, on March 21, dismissed the case, stating that internal party matters should not be adjudicated by the courts.
In response, the PDP governors on April 14 directed the South-East to nominate a new candidate and endorsed Setonji Koshoedo as acting National Secretary.
The NWC ratified this move at its 600th meeting on April 29.
However, the South-East remains adamant, maintaining that Udeh-Okoye is the rightful occupant of the position.
To resolve the lingering dispute, serving and former PDP governors recently appointed former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, to head a seven-member reconciliation committee ahead of the NEC meeting scheduled for May 27 and the party’s elective convention in August.
In line with the governors’ directive, the South-East ZEC reconvened and unanimously reaffirmed Udeh-Okoye as its nominee for the post of National Secretary.
Reading the caucus communiqué, Odefa stated:“The South-East ZEC exhaustively deliberated on the directive of the NWC and came to the conclusion that it offered a sure pathway to peace, unity, stability, and progress of our party. Consequently, the ZEC unanimously recommended Hon. Sunday Udeh-Okoye as the candidate to complete the term of office of the National Secretary.”
He lamented that the South-East had consistently nominated Udeh-Okoye since October 2023 without success and urged the NWC to immediately ratify his nomination and allow Koshoedo to continue only in an acting capacity.
“The South-East has consistently served as a stronghold of the PDP from inception. In PDP’s near three-decade existence, we have given our loyalty and all to the party,” the communiqué read.
“Currently, while the party has been losing key members post-2023 general elections, the South-East PDP is at the vanguard of strengthening the party by rallying major opposition figures such as in Enugu, where the Labour Party gubernatorial candidate, two LP House of Reps members, and numerous Assembly members have joined the PDP.”
The caucus warned that if the party continues to ignore the region’s demands, it would be compelled to reconsider its relationship with the PDP.
“We hope that this time, the position of the South-East PDP regarding the Office of the National Secretary is accorded the honour and immediacy it deserves. Otherwise, the South-East PDP, as a family, will be compelled to reconsider our relationship with the PDP going forward,” the communiqué added.
Senator Wabara, speaking during the meeting, said it was time to reassess the region’s continued loyalty to a party that has failed to treat it with fairness.
“We have been trampled upon, not taken seriously. If such a position were vacant in the South-South, it would not be like this. The usual thing is to play politics with the Igbo man,” he said.
“Yes, we may have to reconsider our stand as far as the party is concerned. But I trust the NWC. We are expecting that this issue will be finally ironed out once and for all. We do not want to be taken for granted anymore.”
Meanwhile, at a separate press conference in Abuja, the PDP National Secretariat staff publicly aligned with the Governors’ Forum and NWC in recognizing Arch. Koshoedo as Acting National Secretary.
Speaking on behalf of 83 staff members, Director of Administration, Gurama Bawa, said:
“After thorough consideration, the management and staff of the PDP National Secretariat unanimously align with and declare unalloyed loyalty to the recommendation of the PDP Governors’ Forum as adopted by the NWC in recognizing and working with Arch. Setonji Koshoedo as the Acting National Secretary.”
He described the decision as essential to preserving party unity and ensuring administrative stability.
The staff also urged Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, to ensure that the May 27 NEC meeting holds as planned, noting its importance in resolving key leadership questions and reinforcing party discipline.
“The judgment of the Supreme Court led to renewed disputation as Senator Anyanwu argued that it favoured him because the Enugu High Court and Appeal Court rulings were struck out for lack of jurisdiction,” Bawa noted.
“However, the NWC, in its March 21, 2025, statement, clarified that the ruling reaffirmed Udeh-Okoye’s emergence as National Secretary through proper internal party mechanisms.”
He further referenced the PDP Governors’ April 14 recommendation for Koshoedo to serve in an acting capacity pending ratification of a substantive Secretary, in accordance with Section 36(2) of the PDP Constitution—an action adopted by the NWC on April 29.
The PDP staff also acknowledged Senator Anyanwu’s service to the party and called for internal cohesion as preparations intensify for the party’s convention.
Attempts to reach Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum and National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba for comments were unsuccessful, as calls were not answered.
=== PUNCH ===
