By Zara Maisango
The power tussle for the position of National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took a dramatic turn as Samuel Anyanwu and Sunday Ude-Okoye clashed at the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT) meeting. The confrontation, which played out in full view of party elders and stakeholders, underscored the deepening divisions within the opposition party.
The dispute stems from Anyanwu’s nomination as the PDP governorship candidate for Imo State in the 2023 election, a move that party leaders in the South-East believed required him to vacate his position as National Secretary. In his place, the zone nominated Sunday Ude-Okoye. However, Anyanwu refused to step aside, insisting that his tenure had not expired. The battle quickly moved to the courts, with conflicting rulings further complicating the situation.
On December 20, 2024, the Court of Appeal in Enugu ruled in favor of Ude-Okoye, affirming him as the legitimate National Secretary. This decision was promptly communicated to the PDP leadership on December 24. But just when it seemed settled, the Court of Appeal in Abuja threw the party into another round of uncertainty by issuing a restraining order, allowing Anyanwu to remain in office pending a final decision from the Supreme Court.
The legal limbo has turned the party’s national secretariat into a battleground, with both men attempting to assume control. Witnesses at the BoT meeting reported a tense exchange between Anyanwu and Ude-Okoye, each asserting their legitimacy and demanding recognition from the party leadership. While party elders tried to mediate, the encounter further exposed the cracks within the PDP.
The division has raised concerns about the party’s ability to maintain internal cohesion ahead of the next general election. With multiple factions aligning behind either Anyanwu or Ude-Okoye, the crisis threatens to weaken the PDP’s national structure at a time when it desperately needs unity.
Political analysts argue that the leadership vacuum at the national secretariat could affect the party’s strategic planning and decision-making. “If this issue is not resolved swiftly, it will create deeper instability within the party, and that’s a dangerous sign heading into 2025,” said a party insider who spoke on condition of anonymity.
With the matter now awaiting a Supreme Court verdict, all eyes are on the PDP’s leadership to see how they navigate the crisis. Will the party step in to enforce a resolution, or will this be another drawn-out battle that leaves the PDP weakened ahead of the next electoral cycle?
For now, the power struggle continues, with Anyanwu and Ude-Okoye both holding their ground in what has become one of the most heated internal battles in the PDP’s recent history.
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