A prominent chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Samuel Anyanwu, has reiterated his stance as the legitimate National Secretary of the party, despite a legal ruling that declared Sunday Ude-Okoye as his replacement. The PDP is currently embroiled in an internal crisis, with both Anyanwu and Ude-Okoye laying claim to the influential position.
In December 2024, the Court of Appeal ruled in favor of Ude-Okoye, directing that he replace Anyanwu following his candidacy for the governorship in Imo State in the 2023 elections. The South East Zonal Executive Committee of the PDP had nominated Ude-Okoye to assume the role after Anyanwu’s transition to a gubernatorial candidate.
However, Anyanwu has vigorously contested the ruling, securing multiple court injunctions in an effort to prevent his removal from office. The matter escalated further when the Appeal Court judge, Ridwan Abdullahi, dismissed an earlier High Court injunction on December 20, 2024, which had favored Anyanwu’s position. The judge ruled that the High Court judgment “lacked merit,” paving the way for Ude-Okoye’s affirmation as the national secretary.
Despite the legal ruling, Anyanwu, in an exclusive interview on the YouTube program Nigeria Right Now on Thursday, insisted that he remains the authentic PDP National Secretary. He revealed that he had appealed the Appeal Court’s judgment and filed for a stay of execution at the Supreme Court immediately after the ruling.
Anyanwu emphasized that, according to his understanding of the legal process, the status quo should remain until the Supreme Court hears the case. “As we speak today, I’m still the national secretary of PDP,” he asserted.
He also provided details on his legal battles, referencing a Federal High Court ruling in his favor, which affirmed that his position as National Secretary was valid until December 9, 2025. This ruling came after a state High Court had initially demanded his resignation when he contested the governorship. Anyanwu claimed that the subsequent ruling from the Appeal Court on December 20 did not invalidate his position.
“There is no faction in PDP. The PDP is led by the acting national chairman, Umar Damagum,” Anyanwu said, attempting to calm any fears of division within the party. He added that the PDP leadership was unified under Damagum’s stewardship, with no ongoing factionalization.
The crisis surrounding the PDP’s leadership and the national secretary’s position is further fueled by competing legal interpretations, with the future of Anyanwu and Ude-Okoye’s claims resting on the outcome of the Supreme Court’s review of the case. As the matter unfolds, the PDP faces uncertainty over its internal governance, and party members eagerly await the final judicial resolution to the dispute.
