The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has stated that Rt. Hon. SKE Udeh-Okoye has been affirmed as its National Secretary.

The party said that a Supreme Court judgment upheld the party’s authority over its internal leadership decisions.

In a statement, the PDP’s National Working Committee (NWC) emphasized that party leadership matters, including the office of the National Secretary, are strictly internal and beyond judicial intervention.

The ruling solidifies Udeh-Okoye’s position, confirming that he was duly nominated, endorsed, and ratified in accordance with the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017).

Full Statement reads:

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) @OfficialPDPNig has received the Judgment of the Supreme Court which affirmed that the issue of Party leadership positions, including that of the National Secretary is entirely an internal affair of the Party requiring only the Party internal mechanism to which the courts have no jurisdiction.

Today’s judgment of the Supreme Court reaffirms the standing position of the Party and emphatically settles the emergence of Rt. Hon. SKE Udeh Okoye as the substantiative National Secretary of the PDP having been duly nominated, endorsed and ratified through the internal mechanism of the PDP statutory Organs and bodies in line with provisions of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017).

For clarity, the NWC at its 576th meeting held on the 11th of October, 2023, directed the South East Zonal Executive Committee to nominate a replacement for Senator Samuel Anyanwu upon Senator Anyanwu’s nomination as the governorship candidate of the PDP to contest the November 2023 Governorship election in Imo State.

Consequent upon the directive of the NWC, the South East Zonal Executive Committee at its meeting held on the 20th of October 2023 passed a resolution approving the emergence and forwarding of the name of Rt. Hon. SKE Udeh Okoye to the NWC as the National Secretary of the Party.

Accordingly, the NWC at its 577th meeting held on 7th of November 2023 pursuant to its powers under the PDP Constitution, duly received, deliberated upon, accepted and approved the emergence of Rt. Hon. SKE Udeh Okoye as the National Secretary of the Party, which appointment has also since been endorsed by relevant Organs and bodies of the PDP including the Board of Trustees (BoT), South East Zonal Caucus, the PDP Governors’ Forum and officially communicated to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the general public.

The PDP commends the Supreme Court for upholding the principle of the supremacy of the Party in the management of its internal affairs, describing it as victory for democracy.

The NWC urges all patriotic members of the PDP to remain united as we work together to move our great Party forward.”