…Commends Apex Court for Reaffirming Party Supremacy
By Nwafor Sunday
The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has welcomed the Supreme Court judgment, asserting that the ruling validates Rt. Hon. SKE Udeh-Okoye as the substantive National Secretary of the party.
In a statement signed by PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, the party said the Supreme Court’s decision confirmed that leadership matters within the PDP remain internal affairs, beyond the jurisdiction of the courts.
“Today’s judgment of the Supreme Court reaffirms the standing position of the Party and emphatically settles the emergence of Rt. Hon. SKE Udeh-Okoye as the substantive National Secretary of the PDP, having been duly nominated, endorsed, and ratified through the internal mechanism of the PDP statutory organs in line with the party’s constitution,” the statement read.
The leadership dispute arose following Senator Samuel Anyanwu’s nomination as the PDP governorship candidate for the November 2023 election in Imo State. The NWC, at its 576th meeting on October 11, 2023, directed the South East Zonal Executive Committee to nominate a replacement.
On October 20, 2023, the South East Zonal Executive Committee passed a resolution nominating Udeh-Okoye for the position. This nomination was approved by the NWC at its 577th meeting on November 7, 2023, with endorsements from the Board of Trustees (BoT), the PDP Governors’ Forum, and other key party organs. The appointment was also communicated to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Supreme Court nullified the judgments that removed Senator Anyanwu as National Secretary
However, on Friday, the Supreme Court nullified the judgments that removed Senator Anyanwu as National Secretary, declaring that the lower courts had wrongly interfered in the party’s internal affairs.
A five-member panel led by Justice Uwani Abba-Aji ruled that the Enugu High Court and the Court of Appeal erred in their decisions. In the lead judgment by Justice Jamilu Tukur, the apex court emphasized that political parties must manage their own affairs unless they violate their own constitution or the principles of fairness, justice, and equity.
Additionally, the court held that Aniagu Emmanuel, the plaintiff who initiated the case, lacked the legal standing to challenge the PDP’s internal decisions. As a result, all previous judgments against Anyanwu and Udeh-Okoye’s appointment were vacated for lack of jurisdiction.
Following the judgment, the PDP praised the Supreme Court for upholding party supremacy, calling it a victory for democracy.
“The PDP commends the Supreme Court for upholding the principle of the supremacy of the party in managing its internal affairs. We urge all patriotic members of the PDP to remain united as we work together to move our great party forward,” the NWC stated.
While the judgment clarifies the PDP’s position on the National Secretary dispute, it has also sparked debates within party circles, as different factions continue to interpret the ruling to suit their interests.
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