Sunday Udeh-Okoye, former youth leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has quit the party.
In a letter dated October 13 and addressed to the PDP ward chairman in Agbogugu, Awgu LGA of Enugu, Udeh-Okoye said the party has lost its “moral compass”.
“This decision did not come lightly,” he said, adding that the PDP had been an “integral part of my political journey”, offering him the opportunity to contest and serve in various political offices.
“For these privileges of service and trust, I remain profoundly grateful to the party, its leaders, and members at all levels,” he added.
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“However, over time, I have watched with increasing concern as the ideals and vision of the founding fathers of the PDP, built on the principles of unity, justice, and equity, have been eroded.
“The PDP that once stood as a beacon of hope for democratic governance has regrettably lost its moral compass and ideological direction.
“After much contemplation. I have come to the solemn conclusion that I can no longer, in good conscience, remain within a system that has strayed so far from its original purpose.
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“Therefore, I am compelled to part ways with the PDP as I embark on a progressive journey dedicated to restoring the values of democracy, accountability, and service to the people, which the party has sadly abandoned.”
Udeh-Okoye’s resignation comes amid the planned defection of Peter Mba, governor of Enugu, to the All Progressives Congress (APC.
Udeh-Okoye was a member of the Enugu state house of assembly from 2011 to 2017. He served as the PDP national youth leader from 2017 to 2021.
DISPUTE OVER NATIONAL SECRETARY POSITION
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The PDP’s national secretary position has been in dispute since 2023, with Samuel Anyanwu and Udeh-Okoye claiming the office.
In December 2024, the court of appeal ruled that Udeh-Okoye should replace Anyanwu as the PDP national secretary.
The south-east zonal executive committee of the party nominated Udeh-Okoye for the position after Anyanwu became the PDP gubernatorial candidate in Imo state in 2023.
Anyanwu had obtained several court injunctions to prevent his removal from office.
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However, in a verdict delivered on December 20, 2024, Ridwan Abdullahi, the appeal court judge, dismissed the high court’s judgment, which prevented Anyanwu’s removal, for “lacking in merit”.
Following the judgment, Udeh-Okoye said he is the party’s national secretary.
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However, Anyanwu claimed he appealed the judgment and also filed for a stay of execution at the supreme court the same day the appeal court delivered the verdict in favour of Udeh-Okoye.
On January 31, governors elected on the PDP platform recognised Udeh-Okoye as the party’s scribe. About a week later, the party’s board of trustees (BoT) aligned with the governors.
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In March, the supreme court, in its verdict delivered by a five-member panel, held that the debate over the position is an internal affair not subject to adjudication.
The court affirmed the minority judgment of the appellate court, which had nullified the judgment of the trial court over a “lack of jurisdiction”.
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In April, the PDP governors recommended that Setonji Koshoedo, the deputy national secretary, should serve in an acting capacity until a substantive secretary is nominated from the south-east zone and ratified by the national executive committee (NEC).
On May 14, the south-east PDP members threatened to leave the party if Udeh-Okoye was not recognised as the national secretary.
In June, the NEC affirmed Anyanwu as the party’s national secretary.
