… Protests PDP govs recognition of Ude-Okoye
From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
Senator Samuel Anyanwu has protested the directive of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors Forum to the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) to implement the judgment of the Court of Appeal affirming former national youth leader, Sunday Ude-Okoye, as the party’s national secretary.
Anyanwu, in a petition to the Inspector General of Police ( IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, which was made available to journalists, yesterday, said the directive, is a recipe for chaos.
The PDP Governors Forum in a communique after its meeting in Asaba, the Delta State capital on Friday, implored the NWC to give effect to the Appeal Court judgment.
The Court of Appeal, last December, affirmed the judgment of an Enugu High Court, affirming Ude-Okoye as the national secretary of the party. The South East chapter of the PDP had chosen the former national youth leader as replacement for Anyanwu after he emerged as the party’s candidate in the last Imo governorship poll.
Nevertheless, Senator Anyanwu contended that an appeal had been filed in the Supreme Court against the quoted judgement. Furthermore, the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja granted an order on January 13, 2025, clearly directing both parties to maintain status quo ante bellum pending the determination of the substantive application.”
AAnyanwu said: “It is a settled matter in law that when a judgement is appealed against to a superior court all parties should maintain status quo ante belum till the matter is finally determined.
“The Governors cannot claim ignorance of this position of law before issuing their statement which runs in conflict with the court decision.
“The Police is therefore being alerted of the grave dangers that will ensue in the attempt of the NWC to implement the quoted advice of the PDP Governors Forum enshrined in paragraph 3 of their communique. It will be an invitation to chaos and affront to the judiciary and the rule of law especially when the matter is pending before the superior courts for determination.
“The National Working Committee of PDP should be advised to refrain from any action that will be contrary to the position of the court on this matter. It is my right as a lawful citizen to seek justice against a judgement that was fraudulently secured against me.
“In the interest of peace, safety of lives and property of innocent Nigerians all parties to this case should be cautioned to conduct themselves in line with the rule of law and decision of the Court of Appeal to maintain status quo ante bellum pending the hearing and determination of the motion.
“Anything contrary to this will be vehemently resisted. I still remain the validly elected National Secretary of PDP until the court rules otherwise.”
