PDP Crisis Deepens as South-East Caucus Threatens Mass Exit Over National Secretary Position

The lingering leadership crisis in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) escalated on Wednesday as the South-East caucus threatened to quit the party en masse if its nominee, Hon. Sunday Udeh-Okoye, is not reinstated as the National Secretary. At a high-level zonal meeting held at the Enugu Government House, leaders from the region accused the party of repeated disregard and marginalization.

Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, PDP BoT Chairman Senator Adolphus Wabara, and former Imo State Governor Achike Udenwa all voiced frustrations over the treatment of the South-East in party affairs. The zonal leadership unanimously reaffirmed Udeh-Okoye as their nominee and urged the PDP’s National Working Committee (NWC) to immediately ratify his position. They warned that continued delay could force the region to “reconsider” its relationship with the PDP.

“The South East has given unflinching loyalty to the PDP for nearly three decades, yet it has been sidelined,” said Chief Ali Odefa, the Zonal Chairman. “Should our position on the National Secretary continue to be ignored, we will be compelled to review our membership in the party.”

Meanwhile, staff at the PDP National Secretariat in Abuja expressed concern over the crisis and urged Acting National Chairman Amb. Umar Damagum to ensure the NEC meeting slated for May 27 goes ahead. They backed the temporary appointment of Deputy National Secretary Arch. Setonji Koshoedo, in line with the PDP Governors’ Forum’s April 14 resolution and the NWC’s April 29 directive. The workers affirmed their loyalty to Koshoedo as Acting Secretary pending Udeh-Okoye’s formal ratification.