The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is facing a fresh crisis amid the ongoing tussle over the national secretary position.
Former National Publicity Secretary Kola Ologbondiyan has warned that the party may face a worse crisis if it fails to address the issue.
The PDP has been embroiled in crisis since 2022, following its national convention, which produced former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as its 2023 presidential candidate. This led to dissent by some party members, particularly disgruntled PDP governors led by Nyesom Wike, who worked against the party.
Currently, the PDP is divided over its national secretary position, with Sunday Ude-Okoye and Samuel Anyanwu locked in a legal battle.
In a bid to settle to issue, the party’s Board of Trustees recently directed the National Working Committee to swear in Ude-Okoye as substantive national secretary, in line with the declarative judgment of the Enugu High Court, which the Court of Appeal upheld.
However, Ologbondiyan has warned that the party needs to address the issue of zoning its national chairmanship position to the North Central region. He believes that if this issue is not addressed, it could lead to another crisis in the party.
He said, “We saw it coming, and anybody in the Peoples Democratic Party who is interested in the party’s life cannot claim not to know that this would happen.
“Having said that, I still insist — and I believe I speak for the majority of North Central — that even if it’s going to be for a day, the North Central must be allowed to take over the office of the substantive national chairman, which was vacated by Senator Iyorchia Ayu through which Ambassador Ilyasu Damagum assumed office in acting capacity, which means it’s not substantive.
“So, whether the life of the present executive would end in December or before then, the North Central should be given the opportunity. Otherwise, the challenge that led to G5 is still alive. It may not function in the same way, but it would be on record that the party at a point was unjust to the people of North Central.”
