The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees (BOT) has unequivocally endorsed Hon. Sunday Udeh-Okoye as the substantive National Secretary of the party.
This decision was announced in a communiqué delivered to the press by the BOT Chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara, following the BOT meeting in Abuja on Wednesday.
The BOT based its endorsement on the acceptance of a report by Alhaji Tanimu Turaki, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), who was previously tasked by the BOT to analyse the court rulings regarding the political dispute over the National Secretary position, which Udeh-Okoye and Senator Samuel Anyanwu both claim.
Additionally, the BOT commended the PDP Governors’ Forum and the PDP South East Zonal Executive for recognising Udeh-Okoye as the party’s legitimate National Secretary and for adhering to the party’s constitution.
In light of this, the BOT has instructed the National Working Committee to promptly swear in Udeh-Okoye as the National Secretary of the PDP.
The communiqué states, “The Board of Trustees of the PDP, at its emergency meeting on Wednesday, February 5, 2025, thoroughly examined critical issues within the Party and resolved as follows:
“The BOT, exercising its constitutional authority, received and exhaustively reviewed the report of its committee, led by Barr. Kabiru Tanimu Turaki SAN, regarding the National Secretary position, particularly concerning the declaratory judgment by the High Court of Enugu, which was upheld by the Court of Appeal.
“As a result, the BOT, through the adoption of the report, confirms Hon. Sunday Udeh-Okoye as the substantive National Secretary of the PDP, in full compliance with the declaratory judgment of the High Court of Enugu and as upheld by the Court of Appeal, noting that there is no contrary or overriding judgment from any superior court.
“The BOT instructs the National Working Committee (NWC) to acknowledge and immediately swear in Hon. Sunday Udeh-Okoye as the National Secretary of the PDP, in accordance with the Court of Appeal’s judgment.
“The BOT urges all party organs, stakeholders, leaders, and members nationwide, as well as all democratic development partners and institutions, to respect the Court of Appeal’s judgment regarding the National Secretary of the PDP.
“The BOT commends the PDP Governors’ Forum, the National Working Committee, the South East Executive Committee, and all other party organs for their dedication to upholding the Constitution and operational guidelines of the PDP.”
Furthermore, the BOT praised the decision to set March 13 as the new date for the long-awaited National Executive Committee meeting and urged party members to remain united and work collaboratively to strengthen the party and reclaim its rightful place in Nigeria’s leadership.
“The BOT expresses satisfaction with the concerted efforts of the PDP Governors’ Forum and the National Working Committee (NWC) in finally scheduling the much-anticipated National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting for Thursday, March 13th, 2025, especially as this meeting serves as a crucial platform for deliberations that will shape the future of our party and, by extension, the future of Nigeria,” the communiqué added.
The BOT concluded by passing a unanimous Vote of Confidence in its Chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara, and Secretary, Senator Ahmed Makarfi.
In a related development, the civil society organisation Competent Governance for Accountability and Trust has warned the judiciary against any dubious stay of execution in the PDP secretariat issue, stating that such actions would tarnish its reputation, as the Court of Appeal has become functus officio in this legal matter.
Speaking to reporters about the BOT’s decision, the group’s National Coordinator, Godwin Oghenero Erheriene, expressed that the BOT’s endorsement, inspired by the Kabiru Turaki report, aligns with the rule of law. “Merely filing an appeal does not constitute a stay of execution, particularly when the Enugu High Court judgment upheld by the Court of Appeal was declaratory,” he noted.
“We are concerned about circulating rumours that the opposing party, within its rights to appeal to the Supreme Court regarding the Court of Appeal’s verdict, is seeking an unjustified stay of execution from the Appeal Court, which has become functus officio in this matter.
“We must guard against such impunity and judicial misconduct that undermine the integrity of our judiciary and political system. The judiciary must protect its integrity,” Erheriene asserted.
