PDP Govs Settle For Ude-Okoye As Party’s National Secretary

… Slate NEC Meeting For March 1

Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have endorsed Sunday Ude-Okoye as the party’s substantive National Secretary.

The position has become a subject of litigation between Ude-Okoye and Senator Samuel Anyanwu.

Anyanwu was the substantive National Secretary until he was sacked by a Federal High Court in Abuja in late 2024.

He then filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal, Enugu Division which affirmed the judgment of the lower court.

In a curious twist, however, the Court of Appeal, in Abuja, issued a counter ruling a few days ago, ordering the disputants to maintain the status quo prior to the judgment of the Enugu Division of the appellate court.

Rising from a meeting on Friday in Asaba, the Delta State capital, the governors also picked March 13 date for the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting.

Acting under the umbrella of the PDP Governors Forum, the governors mandated the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) to convene the NEC meeting unfailingly.

“The Forum, having examined all the notices required by law to validly convoke NEC, advised the NWC to reschedule NEC to the 13th of March, 2025,” the governors said.

Division within the party’s leadership at the national level has made it impossible for the PDP to convene the NEC meeting, which last held on April 18, 2024.

The various crises rocking the party are expected to be resolved by the NEC which has a final say on critical issues affecting the party.

In a communique issued after the Asaba meeting, the governors called on President Bola Tinubu to review his economic policies, which they said, have inflicted untold hardship on Nigerians.

In a communique issued after the meeting, they criticised the macroeconomic policies of the Federal Government, noting their adverse impact on Nigerians.

“The Forum reviewed the performance of member states and the state of the nation, as well as developments in the party.

“It noted the monumental socio-economic, security, and infrastructure challenges that confronted the nation in 2024.

“The Forum commended PDP governors for implementing policies aimed at alleviating the plight of citizens and creating a foundation for sustainable development in their states.

“However, it expressed deep concern over the Federal Government’s macroeconomic policies that have inflicted pain and hardship on Nigerians.

“The Forum calls on the Federal Government to either revisit or rejig its macroeconomic policies to alleviate the suffering of the people, as no meaningful progress can be achieved in the states until these harsh policies are addressed,” the communique stated.

The governors also expressed alarm at the resurgence of non-state actors in the country, despite the efforts of the Armed Forces and other security agencies.

They urged the Federal Government to strengthen the nation’s security architecture to address the growing threats to lives and property.

“While commending the patriotic efforts of the Armed Forces and Security Agencies in securing the country, the Forum expressed concern over the resurgence of brazen non-state actors.

“It, therefore, calls for the strengthening of the nation’s security architecture,” the communique added.

The PDP governors reassured Nigerians of the party’s commitment to addressing the nation’s challenges, promising a return to the “glorious days” before 2015, when security, unity, and economic stability reigned supreme.

The meeting, which was chaired by Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, was attended by the party’s 12 other governors.

The other governors at the meeting were Siminalayi Fubara (Rivers), Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom), Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri (Adamawa), Douye Diri (Bayelsa), Peter Mbah (Enugu), Ademola Adeleke (Osun), Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau), Agbu Kefas (Taraba), and Dauda Lawal (Zamfara).

The Oyo Governor, Seyi Makinde was represented by his deputy, Bayo Lawal.