INEC Warns PDP: Supreme Court Judgment Is Final – No Going Back!

INEC on Tuesday advised the main opposition party, the PDP, to respect and implement the Supreme Court’s decision on the rightful occupant of the national secretary office.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

INEC Insists PDP Must Comply with Supreme Court Ruling on National Secretary

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reiterated to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that it must comply with the Supreme Court’s decision regarding the party’s national secretary.

INEC made this clear during a recent meeting with PDP leaders, including governors, members of the National Working Committee (NWC), the Board of Trustees (BoT), party officials, and lawmakers. The electoral body emphasized that it would only recognize official correspondences signed jointly by the party’s national chairman and national secretary.

Sources revealed that the meeting was convened at the request of the PDP after INEC rejected a letter notifying it of an upcoming National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting. The rejection was based on the fact that the letter was signed solely by acting chairman Umar Damagum and not co-signed by the party’s national secretary, as required by the Electoral Act.

At the meeting, INEC refused to name who it recognized as the legitimate national secretary, asserting that it was the party’s responsibility to decide its leadership in line with the Supreme Court’s directive. A senior PDP official told Daily Trust that INEC was firm in its stance and urged the party to adhere strictly to the judgment.

“In fact, party leaders are currently in a follow-up meeting to determine the name they will present to INEC,” the official added. “INEC has made it clear that any communication not jointly signed by both national chairman and national secretary will not be acknowledged.”

Following the meeting with INEC, PDP leaders moved to a high-level strategy session at the Bauchi State Governor’s Lodge in Asokoro, Abuja, to find a resolution. Deliberations were still ongoing at the time of reporting.

INEC spokesperson Zainab Aminu Abubakar confirmed to BBC Hausa that the meeting was called in response to PDP’s complaints. “The party claimed we ignored their invitation to observe their congress, but we explained that we cannot accept any invitation not duly signed by both the national chairman and secretary,” she stated.

PDP Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum also confirmed the engagement with INEC, noting that the party would internally review the matter and communicate its position soon.

Background of the Crisis

The dispute over the position of PDP national secretary began when Senator Samuel Anyanwu, after winning the Imo governorship primary, was replaced in his absence by Sunday Udeh-Okoye, as nominated by the South-East Caucus.

Upon returning from the election, which he lost, Anyanwu attempted to reclaim his former role, but faced opposition from key South-East leaders, including Chief Ali Odefa.

This power tussle led to legal battles, culminating in a Court of Appeal decision in Enugu affirming Udeh-Okoye’s appointment in December 2024. Anyanwu challenged the ruling at the Supreme Court, which overturned the appeal court’s decision but declared that the PDP has the authority to determine its own leadership.

However, rather than resolving the conflict, the Supreme Court judgment intensified the rift. Supporters of Anyanwu argue that the lower court ruling has been nullified, reinstating him as secretary. On the other hand, Udeh-Okoye’s camp insists the party now has the liberty to nominate its preferred candidate.

To ease tensions, PDP governors later nominated Deputy National Secretary Setonji Koshoedo to act as secretary pending a final resolution.

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