The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has hailed the judgment of the Supreme Court, which affirms Rt. Hon. SKE Udeh-Okoye as the substantive National Secretary of the party. The apex court’s ruling, delivered today, reaffirms the party’s supremacy in managing its internal affairs and settles the leadership dispute in favor of Udeh-Okoye.
In a press statement signed by Hon. Debo Ologunagba, the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, the party commended the Supreme Court for its decision, describing it as a victory for democracy. “Today’s judgment of the Supreme Court reaffirms the position of the Party and emphatically settles the emergence of Rt. Hon. SKE Udeh-Okoye as the substantive National Secretary of the PDP,” the statement read.
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The judgment underscores that the issue of party leadership positions, including that of the National Secretary, is entirely an internal affair of the PDP and does not fall under the jurisdiction of the courts. Udeh-Okoye’s appointment was duly processed through the party’s internal mechanisms, in line with the provisions of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017).
For clarity, the NWC at its 576th meeting held on October 11, 2023, directed the South East Zonal Executive Committee to nominate a replacement for Senator Samuel Anyanwu, who had been nominated as the PDP’s governorship candidate for the November 2023 election in Imo State. Following this directive, the South East Zonal Executive Committee, at its meeting on October 20, 2023, approved the emergence of Rt. Hon. SKE Udeh-Okoye and forwarded his name to the NWC as the National Secretary of the Party.
The NWC, at its 577th meeting on November 7, 2023, exercised its powers under the PDP Constitution to deliberate upon, accept, and approve Udeh-Okoye’s appointment. This decision was subsequently endorsed by key organs and bodies of the PDP, including the Board of Trustees (BoT), the South East Zonal Caucus, and the PDP Governors’ Forum. The appointment was also officially communicated to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the general public.
The PDP praised the Supreme Court for upholding the principle of party supremacy, emphasizing that the ruling strengthens the party’s internal democratic processes. “The NWC urges all patriotic members of the PDP to remain united as we work together to move our great Party forward,” the statement concluded.
