The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has welcomed the Supreme Court’s ruling affirming Rt. Hon. SKE Udeh-Okoye as the party’s substantive National Secretary.
In a statement signed by National Publicity Secretary Hon. Debo Ologunagba, the party said the judgment confirms that leadership disputes within the PDP are internal matters beyond the jurisdiction of the courts. The court’s decision effectively settles Udeh-Okoye’s appointment, which had been endorsed by the South East Zonal Executive Committee and ratified by the NWC, the Board of Trustees (BoT), and the PDP Governors’ Forum in late 2023.
The leadership conflict stemmed from Senator Samuel Anyanwu’s nomination as the PDP governorship candidate for the 2023 Imo State election. After Anyanwu’s nomination, the South East Zonal Executive Committee appointed Udeh-Okoye to replace him as National Secretary — a decision challenged in court.
On Friday, a five-member Supreme Court panel led by Justice Uwani Abba-Aji ruled that the Enugu High Court and the Court of Appeal had wrongly interfered in PDP’s internal affairs. The court also determined that the plaintiff, Aniagu Emmanuel, lacked the legal standing to challenge the party’s decisions.
Praising the ruling, the PDP described it as a victory for democracy and reaffirmation of party supremacy. The NWC urged all party members to remain united and focus on strengthening the party.
