The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Working Committee (NWC) rejected Sunday Kelly Ude Okoye’s nomination for the position of National Secretary on Tuesday. The PDP National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, who was the party’s nominee for governor of Imo State on November 11, 2023, also returned to work in his office at the National Secretariat in Abuja, to the applause of the secretariat personnel.
Insisting that the PDP follows its own standards when choosing or electing national executives, the committee told Ude Okoye not to present himself as the national secretary during a meeting held at the national secretariat of the party.
PDP NWC already confirmed, as the DAILY POST notes, that the National Secretary’s position is not empty because Senator Anyanwu is not obliged to retire in order to run for governor of Imo State under the party’s charter or guidelines.
The NWC further stated that candidates for elective office are not subject to the 30-day notice of resignation provided by Section 57(5) of the PDP Constitution, and that the PDP Election Guidelines, as revised in 2022, do not contain a resignation clause for officers running for office.
It was learned that the NWC urged all of the candidates to drop their lawsuits in court regarding Ude-Okoye’s nomination, standing it down on the grounds that the party must abide by its constitution.
After the NWC meeting, acting National Chairman of the party Umar Illiya Damagum briefed reporters, stating that the NWC’s decision was based on the fact that there were contradicting court decisions about the case.
“I’m sure you’ll inquire about the National Secretary’s problems. This is a family issue that is currently being handled. All candidates have been instructed by the NWC to return and withdraw their court proceedings,” Damagum said.