Kehinde Fajobi
The National Legal Adviser of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN), has urged Acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum, to immediately swear in Sunday Ude-Okoye as the party’s National Secretary.
In an internal memo received by Damagum’s office on Monday, Ajibade based his recommendation on the report of the Saminu Turaki-led fact-finding committee, which was endorsed by the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT).
Ajibade noted that both claimants to the position, Senator Samuel Anyanwu and Ude-Okoye, had voluntarily submitted to the BoT panel’s authority and should abide by its decision.
“The contending parties have willingly submitted to the authority of the Dr. Kabiru T. Turaki, SAN-led committee. A legal opinion/advice having been proffered after evaluating the documents tendered by the parties should be respected,” he stated.
He warned that disregarding the BoT’s ruling would deepen internal discord and weaken the party’s leadership structure.
Tensions over the position heightened on January 28 when Anyanwu’s supporters physically removed Ude-Okoye from a BoT meeting.
The PDP Governors’ Forum, led by Governor Bala Mohammed, later intervened, backing the court’s December 20 ruling that affirmed Ude-Okoye as National Secretary.
Ajibade, in his February 7 memo, upheld this position, advising the party to comply with the BoT’s verdict.
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“It is my advice that the contending parties, having willingly submitted to the committee, should honor its verdict. I hereby adopt the legal opinion as mine,” he stated.
The dispute stems from the 2023 Imo State governorship election, where Anyanwu, the PDP candidate, retained his role as National Secretary.
While he argued that the party’s constitution permitted him to delegate his duties without resigning, South East PDP stakeholders opposed this, nominating Ude-Okoye instead.