Spokesperson of the Opposition Lawmakers Coalition and member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, has applauded the management and staff of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for standing firmly with the PDP Governors’ Forum and the National Working Committee (NWC) in affirming Arch. Setonji Koshoedo as the Acting National Secretary and disowning the embattled former Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu.
At a press briefing held Wednesday in Abuja, Director of Administration at the PDP National Secretariat, Gurama Bawa, speaking on behalf of 83 staff members, declared their full support for the recognition of Koshoedo, aligning with the decision of the PDP Governors’ Forum and NWC.
“The management and staff of the PDP National Secretariat unanimously align with and declare unalloyed loyalty to the recommendation of the PDP Governors’ Forum as adopted by the NWC in recognising and working with Arch. Setonji Koshoedo as the Acting National Secretary of our party,” Bawa stated.
He emphasised that the NWC’s directive was vital to restoring internal order and safeguarding the integrity of the PDP, especially given the sensitive nature of the office of National Secretary.
The PDP has been embroiled in a leadership crisis since 2023, which worsened in December 2024 following a court ruling naming Sunday Ude-Okoye as Secretary. Although the party’s top leadership endorsed the ruling, Senator Anyanwu challenged it all the way to the Supreme Court. The apex court, on March 21, dismissed the matter, affirming that party leadership issues were internal matters outside court jurisdiction.
To resolve the impasse, the PDP Governors’ Forum, on April 14, urged the South East to nominate a new secretary while recommending Koshoedo as Acting Secretary. This recommendation was adopted by the NWC at its 600th meeting on April 29.
In support, Bawa and other staff called on Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, to ensure the scheduled May 27 NEC meeting proceeds as planned, highlighting its importance in reaffirming the party’s unity and adherence to constitutional processes.
Responding to these developments, Ugochinyere praised the PDP staff as “reawakened soldiers of the party” for decisively distancing themselves from Senator Anyanwu, whom he described as “a symbol of betrayal backed by FCT land politics.”
He further commended the South East PDP for re-nominating Sunday Ude-Okoye as the substantive National Secretary and lauded Koshoedo for “helping to rescue the soul of the party at a critical moment.”
“The era of resistance to the politics of betrayal and desperation is here,” Ugochinyere said. “The PDP is returning to its roots of loyalty, order, and internal discipline.”