The internal crisis within the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) intensified on Wednesday as the South-East Zonal Caucus warned of potential mass defections over the party’s refusal to ratify Sunday Udeh-Okoye as National Secretary. This warning was contained in a communiqué read by Zonal Chairman Chief Ali Odefa after a meeting of the South-East Zonal Executive Committee (ZEC) at the Enugu State Government House. During the meeting, Enugu State Governor and PDP leader in the zone, Dr. Peter Mbah, called for unity. PDP Board of Trustees Chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara, and former Imo State Governor, Chief Achike Udenwa, criticized the party’s continued marginalization of the South-East.
The leadership dispute over the National Secretary role emerged after the 2023 general elections and escalated in December 2024 when a lower court and the South-East caucus endorsed Udeh-Okoye, a former National Youth Leader, for the position. Though initially accepted by PDP governors, the BoT, and the National Working Committee (NWC), Senator Samuel Anyanwu contested the decision in court.
On March 21, the Supreme Court dismissed the case, affirming that internal party matters should not be decided in court. However, the PDP governors subsequently directed the South-East to nominate a new candidate and endorsed Setonji Koshoedo as Acting National Secretary, a move ratified by the NWC during its 600th meeting on April 29.
Despite this, the South-East remains firm on Udeh-Okoye’s nomination. To resolve the impasse, serving and former PDP governors appointed former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, to lead a seven-member reconciliation committee ahead of the May 27 National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting and the party’s elective convention in August.
Following the governors’ directive, the South-East ZEC reconvened and unanimously reaffirmed Udeh-Okoye as their nominee. Reading the communiqué, Odefa stated that the caucus believed the directive provided a pathway to unity and progress, and urged the NWC to formally ratify Udeh-Okoye’s nomination while allowing Koshoedo to serve 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 continued neglect of their demand would force the region 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 echoed the sentiment, questioning the region’s continued loyalty to a party that, in his view, has not treated it fairly.
“We’ve been taken for granted. This would not happen if it involved another region. It’s time we reconsider our stand,” he said, expressing hope the NWC would resolve the matter conclusively.
Meanwhile, at a separate press briefing in Abuja, staff of the PDP National Secretariat publicly aligned with the PDP Governors’ Forum and NWC in recognizing Koshoedo as Acting National Secretary.
“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.”
Speaking on behalf of 83 staff members, Director of Administration Gurama Bawa declared their full support for the appointment, citing the need for unity and administrative stability. The staff urged Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum to ensure the May 27 NEC meeting proceeds as planned to address critical leadership issues.
Bawa also addressed confusion following the Supreme Court ruling, clarifying that the NWC had reaffirmed Udeh-Okoye’s emergence through internal party processes. He added that Koshoedo’s acting appointment aligns with Section 36(2) of the PDP Constitution and was properly ratified on April 29.
While acknowledging Senator Anyanwu’s contributions to the party, the staff called for cohesion ahead of the party’s convention.
Efforts to reach Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum and National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba for comments were unsuccessful, as calls went unanswered.
