As the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) resumes from vacation, the national secretariat in Abuja is gripped by renewed tension due to an ongoing dispute over the party’s National Secretary position. At the heart of this discord are Senator Samuel Anyanwu and Sunday Ude-Okoye, both claiming the right to the office. The situation has escalated with the resumption of work, setting the stage for potential conflict.
The legal tussle has seen both a High Court and the Court of Appeal affirm Ude-Okoye as the substantive National Secretary, decisions Senator Anyanwu is currently challenging at the Supreme Court. The Appellate Court specifically criticized Anyanwu’s continued tenure, citing his participation in the 2023 Imo State gubernatorial elections as an aberration under the party’s constitution. Despite this, Anyanwu insists on retaining his position until the Supreme Court decides, leveraging his pending appeal and a request for a stay of execution.
On the other side, Ude-Okoye, backed by these judicial affirmations, was publicly acknowledged as the National Secretary by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, who emphasized that the party is bound by the current highest judicial decision.
The tension on the ground is palpable, with party staff expressing concerns for their safety amidst fears that supporters of both claimants might clash. Anonymous staff members have voiced the hope that security measures will prevent any unrest, highlighting the broader implications of this dispute for the rule of law within the party.
Senator Adolphus Wabara, former Senate President and current Chairman of the PDP’s Board of Trustees (BoT), has urged the National Working Committee (NWC) to adhere to the Court of Appeal’s judgment. He stressed that since this is a declaratory judgment, its execution cannot be stayed but only appealed in a higher court. Wabara’s advice underscores the importance of constitutional adherence within the party, advocating for compliance with judicial decisions to maintain the integrity and unity of PDP.
The situation is further complicated by Anyanwu’s legal strategy, which includes seeking a stay of execution, a move Wabara advises against, clarifying that declaratory judgments do not entertain such stays. This ongoing legal and administrative standoff could potentially disrupt the party’s operations and unity at a critical time as it looks towards future elections.
The narrative here is not just about personal ambition but reflects deeper issues of legal compliance, party governance, and the integrity of political processes within Nigeria’s opposition landscape. As the PDP navigates this internal crisis, the actions taken by its leadership will be crucial in setting a precedent for how it handles internal disputes and upholds the rule of law, thereby influencing its image and effectiveness as a national political force.
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