Supreme Court Ruling Ignites Fresh Feuds In PDP Leadership Battle

Scope 31 Mar 2025

PDP Faces New Leadership Strife After Supreme Court Verdict

Listen up, folks. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is in the middle of another leadership storm. The Supreme Court's verdict on who should be the national secretary has sent shockwaves through the party. With the 2027 general elections just around the corner, tensions are running high. It’s like a tug-of-war, with different factions trying to pull the party in their direction. The decision has only added fuel to the fire, reigniting old rivalries and creating new ones.

Two Camps Resume Their Battle for Party Control

Here's what happened: After the Supreme Court made its ruling, things got heated again between the camp of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and the loyalists of the PDP governors. These two groups have been at odds for a while now, and the stakes are higher than ever. The PDP is gearing up for its national convention later this year, and both sides are determined to have a say in how things go down.

Let me break it down for you. The Supreme Court overturned a previous decision by the Court of Appeal in Enugu. That court had agreed with the Enugu High Court, which had declared Sunday Ude-Okoye as the rightful national secretary. But the Supreme Court didn’t see it that way. They sided with the minority opinion in the appellate court, stating that the Enugu High Court didn’t have the authority to make such a call in the first place. So, now the ball is back in the PDP's court.

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Who’s the Real National Secretary?

Here’s where it gets tricky. In 2023, the South East chapter of the PDP chose Ude-Okoye to replace Senator Samuel Anyanwu. Anyanwu had been nominated as a candidate in the last Imo State gubernatorial election. Ude-Okoye has the backing of some heavyweights, including the PDP governors, the Board of Trustees (BoT), and the National Working Committee (NWC). So, he stepped into the role of national secretary. But Anyanwu, who’s close to Minister Wike, wasn’t about to let that slide. He took the matter to the Supreme Court.

Now, here’s the twist: While Wike’s supporters are celebrating the Supreme Court ruling as a win for Anyanwu, the NWC isn’t buying it. In a statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, they argued that the court’s decision actually confirms Ude-Okoye’s legitimacy as the national secretary. It’s a classic case of different sides interpreting the same ruling in their favor.

A Source Weighs In

A source close to the PDP Governors Forum gave some insight into the situation. They said, “The Supreme Court’s judgment essentially means the case shouldn’t have even gone to court in the first place. The apex court nullified the majority judgment that supported the lower court’s ruling and affirmed the minority judgment, which stated that the court lacked jurisdiction. This means the decision now rests with the party, and both the NWC, BoT, and governors have already recognized Ude-Okoye as the national secretary.”

But, of course, there’s another side to the story. A source close to Anyanwu offered a different take. They said, “Those claiming Ude-Okoye is the national secretary are mistaken. The Supreme Court judgment is crystal clear. The real question is who held the national secretary position at the time the lawsuit was filed in the Enugu High Court.”

Potential Disciplinary Actions on the Horizon

Meanwhile, whispers are spreading within the PDP national secretariat. Some party leaders are pushing for disciplinary actions against Anyanwu and anyone else who opposes the party’s stance that Ude-Okoye is the rightful national secretary. According to a source, the NWC might act swiftly against Anyanwu. They could use a report from the Chief Tom Ikimi-led National Disciplinary Committee, which had previously recommended Anyanwu’s expulsion over alleged anti-party activities.

Another source shared, “The Supreme Court ruling has given the party leadership more power. It means they now have the authority to discipline any member who steps out of line. It also means the NWC can expel Anyanwu if he and his supporters refuse to fall in line. Plans are already in motion to make that happen.”