The Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has constituted a panel to address the dispute over the party’s national secretary position.

In a communiqué issued after its meeting in Abuja on Wednesday, the BoT announced that Kabiru Turaki, a former minister of special duties, will chair the panel. The committee is tasked with mediating between Sunday Ude-Okoye and Samuel Anyanwu, who are both laying claim to the role.

The conflict began after the Court of Appeal ruled in December 2024 that Ude-Okoye should replace Anyanwu as the party’s national secretary. The PDP South-East Zonal Executive Committee had nominated Ude-Okoye for the position after Anyanwu became the party’s gubernatorial candidate in Imo State for the 2023 election. However, Anyanwu had secured multiple court injunctions to halt his removal.

On December 20, 2024, Justice Ridwan Abdullahi dismissed a lower court ruling preventing Anyanwu’s removal, declaring it “lacking in merit.” Following the judgment, Ude-Okoye assumed the position, while Anyanwu appealed the verdict and filed for a stay of execution at the Supreme Court.

Speaking on the situation, Adolphus Wabara, BoT Chairman, said members expressed deep concern over ongoing disputes within the National Working Committee (NWC).

“The BoT urges all party leaders and stakeholders to put unity and progress above personal and sectional interests,” Wabara stated. He added that the Kabiru Turaki-led panel will assess the situation and report back for further action.

Earlier on Wednesday, tensions escalated at the PDP National Secretariat in Abuja when Ude-Okoye was reportedly prevented from attending the BoT meeting. A scuffle broke out, with Ude-Okoye later claiming that he was nearly attacked.

“Some people wanted to attack me, and I had to leave to protect myself,” he told journalists.

Reaffirming his position, Ude-Okoye insisted that he was the rightful PDP national secretary, stating, “I assumed duty on December 30, 2024.”