PDP Legal Adviser Backs Ude-Okoye’s Appointment, Calls for Immediate Swearing-In

The National Legal Adviser of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN), has advised the party’s Acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum, and the National Working Committee (NWC) to immediately swear in Sunday Ude-Okoye as the party’s National Secretary.

Ajibade’s legal recommendation was outlined in an internal memo received by Damagum’s office on Monday. He based his position on the findings of the Saminu Turaki-led fact-finding committee, which was endorsed by the PDP’s Board of Trustees (BoT). According to him, since both claimants to the position—Senator Samuel Anyanwu and Hon. Sunday Ude-Okoye—had voluntarily submitted to the BoT panel’s authority, they should respect its verdict.

The dispute over the National Secretary position escalated following the 2023 Imo State Governorship election, in which Anyanwu was the PDP candidate. While he argued that the party’s constitution allowed him to delegate his functions without resigning, PDP stakeholders in the South East nominated Ude-Okoye, insisting that Anyanwu’s dual roles as governorship candidate and National Secretary violated party guidelines.

On December 20, 2024, the Court of Appeal in Enugu ruled in favor of Ude-Okoye, but tensions persisted. Matters took a dramatic turn on January 28 when Anyanwu’s supporters forcibly removed Ude-Okoye from a BoT meeting. The PDP Governors’ Forum, led by Governor Bala Mohammed, intervened on January 31, backing the court’s decision and recognizing Ude-Okoye as the legitimate National Secretary.

In response to the ongoing crisis, Damagum sought legal advice from Ajibade on February 6 regarding the BoT’s recommendation. In his February 7 memo, Ajibade reaffirmed Ude-Okoye’s position and urged the party to uphold the BoT’s decision. He warned that rejecting the legal opinion could exacerbate internal tensions and undermine the BoT’s role as the party’s conscience.

Ajibade concluded by stating that since both parties had willingly submitted to the Turaki-led committee, they should honor its decision. He adopted the legal opinion as his own and urged the PDP leadership to act swiftly to resolve the dispute.