By Jude Opara, Abuja
The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may have deepened following the decision of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Party (PDP) to have on Wednesday said it now recognizes Hon. Sunday Udeh-Okoye as the substantive National Secretary of the party.
Addressing newsmen after its emergency meeting at the Transcorp Hilton, Chairman of the BoT, Sen. Adolphus Wabara said the decision was taken in conformity with the ruling of the Court of Appeal Enugu Division which recognized Udeh-Okoye as the scribe of the main opposition party.
The former Senate President further said the BoT has resolved to always assert itself as the conscience of the party in line with the letters of its constitution.
The BoT further said it has decided to blacklist the Wadata House National Secretariat of the following the violent clash between supporters of the Sen. Samuel Anyanwu and Hon. Sunday Udeh-Okoye during their last meeting at the secretariat last week.
It could be recalled that the members of the BoT were embarrassed following the clash which saw thugs allegedly mobilized by both Anyanwu and Udeh-Okoye, in furtherance to their claims of who is actually the secretary of the opposition political party.
The BoT Chairman said after a careful evaluation of what happened at the last meeting, they decided not to meet their again until the security situation there improves.
Sen. Wabara who said the decision to avoid the party secretariat said the incident happened because of the poor security arrangement at the party house.
The former Senate President further lauded the BoT members for turning out in their numbers to be at the meeting which he said is a watershed and testament to their dedication to nation building.
He said the BoT henceforth has decided to be asserting its position as the conscience of the party in line with the constitution of the party.
“The Board of Trustees asserts its position as a prominent ORGAN of the PDP as enshrined under Section 13 (1)® of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017).
“The BoT also asserts its inherent authority under Section 32 (5)(a) of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017) which empowers it to “ensure highest standards of morality in all the activities of the Party by acting as the conscience of the Party, with powers to call to order any officer of the Party, whose conduct falls below the norms.
“Consequently, the BoT by adopting the report recognizes Hon. Sunday Udeh-Okoye as the substantive National Secretary of the PDP in full obedience to the declaratory Judgment of the high Court of Enugu as also upheld by the Court of Appeal there being no contrary or overriding judgment from any Court of superior jurisdiction”.
The BoT further urged the National Working Committee (NWC) to without any delay recognize and inaugurate Udeh-Okoye as the substantive National Secretary of the party.
“The BoT charges the National Working Committee (NWC) to recognize and immediately swear in Hon. Sunday Udeh-Okoye as the National Secretary of the PDP in obedience to the Judgment of the Court of Appeal.
“The BoT urges all party organs, critical stakeholders, leaders and members across the country as well as all democracy development partners and institutions to be guided by the judgment of the Court of Appeal with regard to the position of the National Secretary of the PDP”.
The BoT equally expressed satisfaction with the PDP Governors’ Forum and the National Working Committee (NWC) for their concerted efforts in finally setting Thursday, March 13th, 2025 as the date for the much-anticipated National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the Party; even as he added that the NEC meeting is the platform for critical deliberations that will shape the future of the party and by extension, the future of Nigeria.
The BoT equally passed a unanimous Vote of Confidence on the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Senator Adolphus Wabara and Secretary of the Board of Trustees, Senator Ahmed Makarfi for their outstanding leadership in piloting the affairs of the BoT and stabilizing the Party.
Earlier during the opening ceremony, Wabara had while thanking the members for turning out for the meeting said it shows that there are still many dedicated people who have the interest of the party and the country at heart.
“Our dedication to nation building is unwavering, we are not here just for gathering sake but to dispassionately shape the future of our party and our dear country”.
On the scheduled National Executive Committee (NEC), Wabara while applauding the governors of the party and the National Working Committee (NWC) for scheduling the much awaited meeting for March 13, Wabara urged everyone to come with an open and dispassionate mind to rebuild the party and also give hope to the country.
“Despite the challenges the PDP is facing today, the PDP remains the hope of Nigerians, the PDP understands the aspiration of the people. The NEC meeting must be based on sense of purpose to strengthen the PDP to remain the party will the character to redeem and rebuild the country”.
However, the National Chairman of the party, Amb. Umar Damagum was seen leaving the meeting before it ended, which suggests that the NWC may not accept the position of the NWC as well as the PDP Governors Forum (PGF) who last week in their meeting in Asaba, Delta State also endorsed Udeh-Okoye.
The PDP has been engrossed in different layers of crisis since the 2023 general elections which was won by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
