PDP on the Brink? South-East Caucus Threatens Defection Over National Secretary Crisis
The lingering leadership crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has taken a sharp and potentially dangerous turn, as the party’s South-East Zonal Caucus has threatened mass defections if its choice for National Secretary, Sunday Udeh-Okoye, continues to be sidelined.
At the heart of the storm is a long-running battle for the party’s National Secretary position a role traditionally zoned to the South-East, but now mired in controversy, internal power plays, and growing resentment.
A Standoff Brewing for Months
What began as a routine nomination process after the 2023 general elections has now spiraled into a full-blown crisis. The South-East PDP, backed by a previous court decision and internal consensus, has consistently nominated Udeh-Okoye for the key position. But after initial acceptance, the party leadership made a sudden U-turn, appointing Setonji Koshoedo a move seen by many in the region as a political slight.
The Supreme Court’s March 21 ruling complicated matters further by dismissing the case, arguing it was an internal party matter, thereby offering no clear resolution. The PDP Governors’ Forum and National Working Committee (NWC), leveraging the ambiguity, appointed Koshoedo in an acting capacity on April 29. The South-East, however, is not backing down.
Unity Calls Amid Deepening Distrust
In a strongly worded communiqué issued after a Zonal Executive Committee (ZEC) meeting in Enugu, the South-East PDP, led by Zonal Chairman Chief Ali Odefa, reaffirmed its commitment to Udeh-Okoye. They called the ongoing marginalization “unjust” and warned that the region’s loyalty to the PDP should no longer be taken for granted.
Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu, while calling for unity, found himself surrounded by heavyweights like Senator Adolphus Wabara and Chief Achike Udenwa, who didn’t mince words. They criticized the party’s national leadership for sidelining the South-East and failing to respect internal democratic processes.
Wabara was blunt: “If this happened in the South-South, the outcome would’ve been different. Why is the Igbo man always shortchanged?”
A Serious Threat: Defection on the Table
In what many see as a last warning, the South-East Caucus declared that continued neglect could force the region to “reconsider its relationship” with the PDP. This is no idle threat especially with growing political realignments and defections happening across the country.
Ironically, while the PDP is losing ground nationally, the South-East has been pulling new weight for the party. The communiqué highlighted recent wins in Enugu, where former Labour Party figures, including a gubernatorial candidate and House of Reps members, defected to the PDP. Yet, the region feels spurned.
“The South-East has given this party everything,” Odefa said. “What we are asking is not too much respect our choice, or risk losing a loyal bloc.”
Party Staff Break Ranks with South-East
In a dramatic twist, the PDP National Secretariat staff 83 in number held a separate press conference in Abuja, throwing their weight behind Arch. Setonji Koshoedo. Represented by Director of Administration Gurama Bawa, the staff insisted the decision was essential for administrative stability and urged Acting Chairman Umar Damagum to ensure the NEC meeting on May 27 holds as planned.
They argued that the current turbulence stems from the legal confusion created by Senator Samuel Anyanwu, who still claims legitimacy despite the court’s dismissal.
“The NWC has made its position clear,” Bawa said. “Koshoedo is acting until a consensus candidate is ratified let’s focus on party discipline and unity.”
The Clock is Ticking
With the PDP’s elective convention looming in August, the May 27 NEC meeting is now seen as a make-or-break moment for the opposition party. Will the NWC stand its ground, or will it finally recognize Udeh-Okoye to avoid a regional mutiny?
For a party still struggling to recover from its 2023 electoral losses, this internal implosion could not come at a worse time. If not resolved swiftly, the PDP may face more than just another round of infighting it could face irrelevance.
Reference
PDP on the Brink? South-East Caucus Threatens Defection Over National Secretary Crisis