The Southeast Zonal Executive Committee (ZEC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has issued a stern warning to the party’s national leadership, threatening to “reconsider its relationship” with the PDP if its nominee, Hon. Sunday Udeh-Okoye, is not ratified as National Secretary. The ultimatum follows months of unresolved tensions over the position, which has been zoned to the Southeast since a Supreme Court ruling on March 21, 2025, affirmed the party’s internal authority to manage its leadership roles.
In a communiqué signed by Zonal Chairman Chief Ali Odefa after a meeting in Enugu on Wednesday, the Southeast ZEC reiterated its compliance with a directive from the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) to nominate a candidate to complete the term of the National Secretary. The NWC had adopted a recommendation from the PDP Governors’ Forum, urging the Southeast to propose a nominee after the apex court dismissed external interference in the party’s internal affairs.
Udeh-Okoye, previously endorsed by the Southeast ZEC in October 2023 and reaffirmed in 2024 and 2025, was unanimously selected again as their candidate. The ZEC accused the NWC of dragging out the process, noting that other zones fill vacant positions swiftly. It also demanded that the Deputy National Secretary act as interim until the National Executive Committee (NEC) ratifies Udeh-Okoye.
Highlighting the Southeast’s loyalty, the communiqué cited the region’s role as a PDP stronghold since 1999 and recent efforts to rebuild the party post-2023 elections. Examples included the return of Enugu’s Labour Party governorship candidate and two House of Representatives members to the PDP, boosting the party’s state assembly seats from 10 to 20.
The ZEC warned that failure to implement its resolution “promptly” would force the Southeast PDP to reassess its alliance with the party, signaling a potential rupture unless the leadership crisis is resolved.
