The crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) continued as the National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, and the embattled National Vice-Chairman for the South-East, Ali Odefa, rejected the National Working Committee and South-East Stakeholders meeting called by acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum.
The PDP has faced significant internal turmoil both before and after the 2023 general elections, with the leadership crisis worsening due to disagreements over the National Secretary position.
In 2023, the South East zone of the PDP nominated former National Youth Leader Sunday Ude-Okoye to replace Anyanwu as National Secretary after Anyanwu became the party’s candidate for the Imo State governorship election. The South East PDP argued that Anyanwu should step down from his role, sparking further controversy.
On December 20, 2024, the Appeal Court in Enugu affirmed Ude-Okoye’s appointment as PDP National Secretary, and the ruling was officially communicated to party leadership on December 24.
However, just last week, the Court of Appeal in Abuja issued a restraining order, directing Anyanwu to remain National Secretary until the Supreme Court makes a ruling on the appeal. The hearing for the motion to stay execution was adjourned to a later date.
On Friday, South East Stakeholders gathered in Enugu and endorsed Ude-Okoye as the legitimate PDP National Secretary.
In a recent development, a source, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, disclosed that Damagum has scheduled a meeting between the NWC and South East Stakeholders in Abuja for January 28, in a bid to gather support for Anyanwu.
The source stated, “The meeting will focus on the ongoing crisis over the National Secretary position. Stakeholders have been notified, and some have been mobilized to attend the meeting tomorrow (Tuesday).”
This was also confirmed in a media invitation sent out for the coverage of the event, b PDP’s Director of Publicity, Mrs. Chinwe Nnorom on Monday.
It stated, “The PDP National Working Committee (NWC) meeting with critical South-East zonal stakeholders
“Gentlemen of the Press, good evening. The above subject refers, please. Below is as scheduled on Tuesday, 28th of January, 2025 (Tomorrow), at the NEC Hall (Ground Floor), PDP national headquarters, by 02:00 Pm
“Please do attend and punctually too.”
However, in an interview with journalists in Abuja on Monday, PDP Publicity Secretary, Ologunagba, said he was not aware that the NWC had scheduled any meeting.
He stated that if the meeting was intended for reconciliation, those behind it should allow the reconciliation committee led by former Osun State Governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, to address and resolve all issues.
He stated “Well, I am not aware, and there’s no information, and I’m not aware of any meeting by the NWC with the stakeholders of the party in the Southeast Zone of our party.
“I am aware that last Friday, the Zone held a very successful meeting where all critical stakeholders were present, led by the governor of Enugu, Mr. (Peter) Mbah. And they held a successful meeting which was all over the world in the public domain.
“So, if the NWC is going to hold a meeting with any organ of the party or any zone of the party, or any unit of the party, I, as the National Public Secretary, will be aware. For tomorrow’s (today) rumoured meeting, I am not aware of any. There’s no scheduling of any. And to that extent, I will take that as a rumour. The NWC did not approve and did not schedule.
“In any event, if you say the meeting is about reconciliation, there is a reconciliation committee set up by the party, led by former Governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, and they’re moving around. So, if the agenda is reconciliation, of course, there’s a proper channel to follow, they should allow the committee to work.”
In a related development, the PDP National Vice Chairman for the South East also confirmed that the NWC did not schedule any meeting with South-East Stakeholders.
Odefa in a statement on Monday, stated, “My attention has been drawn to a purported invitation of critical South East stakeholders of the PDP to a meeting with the National Working Committee (NWC) of our great Party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday, January 28, 2025
“As the National Vice Chairman (South East) and member of the NWC representing the South East, I hereby authoritatively state that no such meeting is scheduled between the South East stakeholders and the NWC.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the PDP South East has at the Zonal Committee (ZEC) meeting attended by all South East critical stakeholders in Enugu, Enugu State on Friday, January 25, 2025 discussed and unanimously agreed on all matters related to the planned South East Zonal Congress.
“All PDP South East critical stakeholders, staff of the National Secretariat of the PDP and the media should therefore disregard the purported invitation to a meeting of the South East stakeholders with the NWC as no such meeting was scheduled.”
