The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed full support for the Supreme Court’s judgment on Friday, which validated the party’s selection of Sunday Udeh-Okoye as the National Secretary.
In an official statement issued by PDP’s spokesman, Debo Ologunagba, the party praised the apex court for affirming that disputes over leadership positions within the party are an internal matter, beyond the jurisdiction of the judiciary.
“The PDP National Working Committee (NWC) has received the Supreme Court’s ruling, confirming that leadership matters, including the National Secretary’s position, are solely within the party’s domain and should be resolved through internal mechanisms,” the statement reads.
The court’s decision, according to the PDP, affirms Udeh-Okoye’s appointment as the substantive National Secretary, following his nomination, endorsement, and ratification in accordance with the party’s Constitution (amended in 2017). The NWC had, in its 576th meeting on October 11, 2023, instructed the South East Zonal Executive Committee to nominate a replacement for Senator Samuel Anyanwu, after he was selected as the party’s governorship candidate for Imo State in the November 2023 election.
Subsequently, on October 20, 2023, the South East Zonal Executive Committee approved and forwarded Udeh-Okoye’s name to the NWC. At its meeting on November 7, 2023, the NWC ratified the appointment, which was also supported by other key party organs, including the Board of Trustees (BoT), the PDP Governors’ Forum, and the South East Zonal Caucus. The appointment was officially communicated to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and made public.
The PDP hailed the ruling as a victory for democratic principles, emphasizing the importance of party autonomy in managing its internal affairs. The leadership called on all members to remain united and focused on advancing the party’s goals.
