Akpabio Mocks PDP Amid Leadership Crisis: ‘Who is Your National Secretary?’
During Wednesday’s plenary session, Senate President Godswill Akpabio criticized the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), mocking them for their ongoing leadership crisis.
With a hint of sarcasm, Akpabio turned to Senate Minority Leader Patrick Abba Moro and inquired about the identity of the PDP’s national secretary.
The comment highlighted the internal conflicts within the party, which has recently experienced disagreements over key leadership roles.
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He asked, “Who is your People’s Democratic Party (PDP) National Secretary? The governors have their own National Secretary and other members have theirs.”
In response, Senator Moro affirmed that Senator Samuel Anyanwu continues to be the rightful National Secretary of the PDP. In addition to spearheading opposition efforts in the Senate, Moro also leads the PDP Caucus within the National Assembly, comprising all members who serve as senators and representatives from his party.
The controversy surrounding the National Secretary position of the PDP has persisted without resolution. In a meeting held last Friday in Asaba, Delta State, PDP governors acknowledged Sunday Udeh-Okoye as the new National Secretary and instructed the National Working Committee (NWC) to formally recognize him in this role.
In a meeting held in Abuja earlier on Wednesday, the PDP’s Board of Trustees (BoT) also expressed their support for the party’s governors by reaffirming Udeh-Okoye as the legitimate National Secretary.
In a statement signed by BoT Chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara, the board announced that its decision was informed by findings from a committee headed by Barrister Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN). The BoT referenced a declarative judgment issued by the High Court of Enugu and affirmed by the Court of Appeal, which confirmed Udeh-Okoye as the legitimate National Secretary.
“The BoT, through the adoption of this report, acknowledges Hon. Sunday Udeh-Okoye as the official National Secretary of the PDP in complete compliance with the declaratory judgment from the High Court of Enugu and its subsequent affirmation by the Court of Appeal. There is no conflicting or superior court decision to override this.”
The BoT urged the NWC to promptly swear in Udeh-Okoye and encouraged all PDP stakeholders to comply with the court’s decision. It also praised the PDP Governors’ Forum, the NWC, and other party bodies for their dedication to maintaining adherence to the party’s constitution and guidelines.
The Senate witnessed drama when Senator Ned Nwoko, representing Delta North, officially switched allegiance from the PDP to the APC. In his defection letter read by Akpabio, Nwoko pointed to the internal crisis within the PDP as his reason for leaving.
“In light of this, I appeal to the Senate to address this issue with urgency by establishing an ad hoc committee tasked with investigating the crisis within the PDP and suggesting solutions to protect our democracy,” Nwoko emphasized. He encouraged the committee to explore underlying causes of the party’s internal conflict and recommend reforms that would ensure a robust and effective opposition.
Senate President Akpabio has stated that he will not establish the committee since the matter is currently pending in court.
