A member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Executive Committee (NEC), Hon. Umar Abdullahi, has criticized the PDP Governors Forum for openly endorsing Sunday Ude-Okoye as the party’s National Secretary, warning that the move could escalate internal conflicts.
Speaking in Abuja on Sunday, Abdullahi called the governors’ decision inflammatory and premature, arguing that they should have allowed the party’s conflict resolution mechanisms to take their course.
“The use of a communiqué to address a conflict within the party is not an appropriate step for such a dignified forum,” he stated.
The PDP Governors Forum based its support for Ude-Okoye on a Court of Appeal ruling in Enugu. However, Senator Samuel Anyanwu insists he has obtained a stay of execution order from the Abuja Appeal Court and has already taken the case to the Supreme Court.
Abdullahi accused the governors of overstepping their constitutional powers, asserting that their stance cannot override judicial rulings or decisions of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT).
“The decision of the governors is not the right step toward achieving peace, especially when an appeal is still pending in court,” he added.
He also referenced Anyanwu’s petition to the Inspector General of Police, alleging that a forged PDP constitution and electoral guidelines were used to mislead the court in obtaining the judgment against him.
“An issue of forgery involving PDP documents is a serious criminal offense, which the governors should be fighting against, not ignoring.”
Abdullahi urged the PDP Governors Forum to retrace its steps, respect the legal process, and allow due diligence in resolving the party’s ongoing crisis.