Two former National Chairmen of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Okwesilieze Nwodo and Prince Uche Secondus have congratulated the new substantive National Secretary of the party, Chief Sunday Ude Okoye for his new position and the members of the National Working Committee (NWC) for standing firm in defence of the rule of law and party discipline.
The two former National Chairmen, in a joint statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday, said that by recognizing Chief Ude Okoye, the party leadership has demonstrated its total commitment to the rule of law and rightly portrayed the party as a truly democratic institution.
Nwodo and Secondus warned the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Federal Government to allow the opposition parties to breathe as a strong opposition is the right measure for vibrant democracy all over the World.
The experienced party leaders advised the new Secretary and the members of the NWC to work towards strengthening the party to position it as the party to beat in the subsequent elections.
The party leaders finally advised the party leadership to be forward-looking and not allow their acrimonious past to affect their vision for the party.
Earlier in a statement by PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party said that “at its meeting today, Wednesday, February 12, 2025 extensively considered the Memo dated 11th February, 2025 presented by the Acting National Chairman on the issue of the National Secretary of the PDP.
“The NWC in considering the Memo thoroughly examined the attached documents namely; the Declaratory Judgement of the High Court of Enugu, the Judgment of the Court of Appeal, Enugu Division which pronounced and declared Rt. Hon. S.K.E Udeh Okoye as the National Secretary of the PDP; the Legal Opinion and Advice by Dr. Kabiru T. Turaki SAN as well as that of the National Legal Adviser of the PDP.
“After due consideration of the Memo and the attachments, the NWC overwhelmingly recognizes, acknowledges and confirms Rt. Hon. S.K.E Udeh Okoye as the substantive National Secretary of the PDP in full compliance with and obedience to the Judgement of the Court of Appeal, recognizing that there is no subsisting or superseding Judgment or Order from any Court of superior authority or hierarchy.
“The NWC has commenced the transmission of its Resolution/Decision affirming Rt. Hon. S.K.E Udeh Okoye as the PDP National Secretary to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other relevant bodies for recognition in line with the judgment of the Court of Appeal.
“The NWC commends all Organs, leaders, critical stakeholders and members of the PDP for their steadfastness, respect for the Rule of Law and loyalty to the Party at this critical time.
“The NWC reassures that it will continue to be guided strictly by the provisions of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017), Operational Guidelines, the Rule of Law and the vision of our founding fathers for the stability and growth of the Party, entrenchment of democracy and wellbeing of Nigerians.”
