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The crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party may escalate following the planned resumption in office by the two factional secretaries – Sunday Ude-Okoye and Samuel Anyanwu – on Monday (today).

Ude-Okoye and Anyanwu informed The PUNCH in separate interviews on Sunday that they would return to their duties at the PDP National Headquarters, Wadata Plaza, Abuja, today.

The Court of Appeal affirmed Okoye as the PDP national secretary in a recent judgment, but the erstwhile scribe Anyanwu refused to accept the verdict, insisting that he is still the recognised party secretary.

The development has further polarised the party with top officials supporting either of the two men.

Findings revealed that the development has deepened the divide within the National Working Committee, with at least 12 NWC members and some governors currently supporting Ude-Okoye, while others remain loyal to Anyanwu.

The opposition party had been embroiled in a crisis since the 2023 election, with many party members blaming the Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, an ally of former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, for the turmoil.

The crisis has had a significant impact on all levels and structures within the party.

The latest crisis started in 2023 when the South-East zone nominated Ude-Okoye, a former National Youth Leader, to replace Anyanwu after he was selected as the party’s candidate for the Imo State governorship election.

The South-East PDP leadership argued that Anyanwu was no longer the national secretary, having emerged as the candidate for the Imo election.

However, Ude-Okoye’s nomination as national secretary led to legal disputes, resulting in two contradictory court rulings.

On December 20, 2024, the Court of Appeal upheld an Enugu High Court decision, which had previously confirmed Ude-Okoye’s nomination as Anyanwu’s successor.

Armed with the judgment, Okoye arrived at the party headquarters in Abuja on December 31, 2024, to assume office.

But Anyanwu ordered the closure of the PDP National Secretariat to party officials, including journalists, till January 13.

The development almost led to a breach of the peace as supporters of the factional secretaries nearly engaged in a violent clash.

During the incident, a correspondent with The SUN, Ndubuisi Orji, was assaulted by Emmanuel Okoronkwo, a party official loyal to the ousted national secretary.

Speaking to our correspondent, Ude-Okoye maintained that, going by the appeal court’s ruling, he is the rightful national secretary.

The factional secretary dismissed any possibility of a showdown, emphasizing that there is no division within the NWC.

Responding to questions about an alleged threat by some people to attack party leaders over the tussle, Ude-Okoye said, “Now, if someone truly loves the party, would they plan to destroy it? Would they attempt to scatter the secretariat of the party? If someone knows they are the national secretary, why would they try to destroy their own office?

“But that is for the person planning such things to answer. I cannot be dancing naked in the market with a mad person because, by doing so, I would be mad as well.

“People know when someone is right and when they are just trying to destroy something. When someone is acting as an agent, I am not an agent. I am a PDP member. I am the national secretary, and I will remain the national secretary. I will never come to destroy anything in the PDP.”

In an interview with The PUNCH, the former youth leader stated that his meeting with party leaders on Sunday evening would shape his schedule for the week.

However, he reaffirmed that, as the secretary, he would resume his duties and be at the party headquarters today, if necessary.

“I will have a meeting with the leaders of the party this evening, and that will shape what I am going to do for the week, starting tomorrow. I have resumed my duties and I will be in the office anytime I need to,’’ he noted.

On his part, Anyanwu asserted that he remains the secretary, having filed a stay of execution in court.

In an exclusive interview with our correspondent, Anyanwu confirmed that he would resume today, dispelling fears of violence.

He stated “Obviously, they know what a stay of execution means—it means the status quo remains the same. There’s nothing to discuss about it.

“The party will resume tomorrow (today), and I will go straight to my office. Is there anything that will stop me if I say I want to resume? I will resume if I want to resume.”

In response to questions about a possible showdown, Anyanwu said, “For me, what is important is our party, the PDP. This party is a party of law, and I have filed my case in the Supreme Court. With the stay of execution, we will continue our work and unite our party.

All these interests are about 2027. Everyone should calm down; it is only God who gives power.”

Weighing in on the crisis, the PDP Board of Trustees Chairman, Adolphus Wabara, emphasized the importance of obeying the court judgment to prevent anarchy.

The former Senate president, who confirmed that the BoT was aware of the developments surrounding the national secretary’s office, encouraged anyone dissatisfied with the judgment to appeal to the Supreme Court.

He stated “The BoT has been briefed. We are a party of the rule of law, and we will obey the judgment. We will obey the judgment, whether seen as good or bad, fair or unfair; we will obey it.

“Anything that comes from the court must be obeyed. So, if by tomorrow there is a contrary judgment, we will obey it to avoid anarchy. The PDP is a party of law and a party of constitutionality.

“So, my advice to every member of the party is that we must obey the judgment to avoid further issues. Until there is another judgement from the Supreme Court, members and party must obey this (Appeal Court verdict).”

In a remark, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, reaffirmed that in accordance with the Appeal Court’s Enugu judgment, Ude-Okoye remains the party secretary.

Ologunagba, who described the PDP as a law-abiding party, stated that the party was not aware of any stay of execution.

He added that the NWC, governors, and the Board of Trustees have all been briefed and collectively recognized Ude-Okoye as the party scribe.

Ologunagba said, “We are implementing the judgment. Ude-Okoye has met with the Governors Forum, the Board of Trustees, and he has been introduced as such.

“So, we must comply with the judgment, as I said. As a party, the judgment is very clear to us. PDP abides by the judgment because we are a rule-of-law-compliant party, and tomorrow if there are any court processes that direct otherwise, we will follow them.

“As I speak with you, to my knowledge, the party has not received any stay of execution. The party has not been served anything contrary, and that is the position as I speak with you.”

Responding to a question about a possible confrontation today, Ologunagba pointed out, ‘’Anybody who is truly a party man, who believes in the rule of law and respects court judgments, would, in the interest of peace and justice, abide by the judgment. So, nobody should resort to self-help, and we must do what is right at any particular time.

“Regardless of what anybody does or says, this party will obey the judgment because we don’t have the power to review it. And if there is another contrary judgment that supersedes this, we will also comply as a law-abiding party.”

Meanwhile, the PDP Deputy National Youth Leader, Timothy Osadolor, and former Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Diran Odeyemi, have called for calm.

The National Executive Council members warned that if the tussle over was not handled carefully, it could exacerbate the party’s problems.

Osadolor in an interview with our correspondent stated, “The matter is a serious issue, and if not properly managed, it could degenerate into a complex one. However, I am certain that there will be no showdown.

“You see, the PDP is a very organic party that has internal structures and mechanisms. And above all, it’s a law-abiding party. So, it’s a clear-cut issue. There will be no showdown.

“The truth is this: I am a member of the NWC, but I am sick and tired of the internal crisis within the NWC. If we cannot come together as one, I think this NWC should come up with a solution so that there will be peace in this party, and this country can have peace by extension.

“The truth is that those members still fighting, I don’t know who they are fighting for or whose interests they are serving. But if we believe we are here to represent the overall interests of Nigerians, then we should close ranks and help Nigerians move forward in the process of development.”

Odeyemi sued for peace, saying, “This is the time for every member of the party to come together. The issue regarding the national secretary is very sensitive, and if care is not taken, it could escalate the crisis in the party.

“My best advice to both camps is to follow the line of the Constitution, considering the interpretations and implications of the judgment. I appeal to both of them to pursue peace and avoid escalating matters within the PDP.”

Credit: PUNCH