PDP S/East Renominates Udeh Okoye as National Secretary

In a decisive move to address ongoing internal disputes, the South-East Zonal Executive Committee (ZEC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has reaffirmed its nomination of Sunday Udeh-Okoye as the party’s National Secretary.  This development aims to resolve the protracted leadership tussle that has challenged the party’s cohesion in recent times.

The South-East caucus reaffirmation took place during a meeting held on May 14 at the Enugu State Government House, where the ZEC unanimously endorsed Udeh-Okoye’s candidacy.  This decision follows a directive from the PDP’s National Working Committee (NWC), which, after a meeting on April 29, instructed the South-East ZEC to nominate a candidate for the National Secretary position, a role traditionally zoned to the region. 

Senate Minority Leader Osita Ngwu presented the caucus’s resolution to the party’s acting National Working Committee in Abuja, emphasizing the South-East’s historical support and loyalty to the PDP.  Ngwu highlighted the region’s consistent delivery of National Assembly members and governors to the party, urging the leadership to consider the merits of their nomination. 

The leadership dispute over the National Secretary position has been a contentious issue within the PDP.  Samuel Anyanwu, who previously held the role, vacated the position to contest the Imo State governorship election in November 2023.  However, he did not formally resign, leading to legal battles over the rightful occupant of the office.  In March 2025, the Supreme Court ruled that matters concerning party leadership fall within the internal affairs of the party, effectively nullifying previous court decisions on the matter. 

In response to the ZEC’s reaffirmation, the PDP’s acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, represented by Deputy National Chairman (South) Taofeek Arapaja, expressed the party’s commitment to resolving the issue.  Damagum assured that the NWC would consider the resolution and forward its recommendation to the National Executive Committee (NEC) during its upcoming meeting scheduled for May 27. 

The South-East PDP leaders have expressed concerns over the prolonged process of nominating Udeh-Okoye, noting that the region has had to repeat this process multiple times since October 2023.  They urged the NWC to not only ratify his nomination promptly but also ensure that the acting National Secretary position is effectively occupied pending NEC’s ratification. 

The reaffirmation of Udeh-Okoye’s nomination is seen as a critical step toward restoring unity within the PDP and strengthening its position ahead of future elections.  Party stakeholders and members are hopeful that the NEC will act swiftly to ratify the nomination, thereby bringing an end to the internal disputes that have plagued the party’s leadership structure.

As the PDP navigates these internal challenges, the South-East caucus’s actions underscore the importance of unity and decisive leadership in maintaining the party’s integrity and electoral viability.