By Lateef Ibrahim
Management and staff of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday took a stand on the leadership crisis in the party, particularly the seat of the party’s National Secretary.
PDP’s Director of Administration, Gurama Bawa, on behalf of the 83 staff spoke while addressing journalists at a press conference in Abuja
They expressed their acceptance of a recent resolution by the PDP Governors Forum, affirming Setonji Koshoedo, as the acting National Secretary of the party.
Peoples Daily reports that the controversy surrounding the seat began in December 2024 when a lower court named former National Youth Leader, Sunday Ude-Okoye, as the PDP National Secretary.
But Senator Samuel Anyanwu, who was away to contest Imo State Governorship election, challenged the ruling at the Supreme Court.
The apex court on March 21 dismissed his removal, declaring that internal party matters are not for courts to decide.
Subsequently, PDP Governors during a meeting in Ibadan the Oyo State capital on April 14 asked the South East to nominate a new secretary.
The party’s National Working Committee, NWC later endorsed Setonji Koshoedo at its 600th meeting on April 29.
This, however, failed to end the dispute as the controversy surrounding the National Secretary’s role continued.
Declaring their position on the matter, the PDP staff said, “After a thorough consideration, the management and staff of the PDP National Secretariat unanimously align with and declare unalloyed loyalty to the recommendation of the PDP Governor’s Forum as adopted by the NWC in recognising and working with Arch Setonji Koshoedo as the Acting National Secretary of our party in line with the provisions of the PDP Constitution.
“We believe that the NWC’s directive that Arch Setonji Koshoedo acts as National Secretary in the overall interest of the stability of our party being the best step at the moment to restore the confidence of members of the party and preserve the integrity of our internal processes given the sensitive nature of the office of the National Secretary in the operation of a political party.”
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