PDP Crisis: I'm not in custody; I'm at home in Enugu, says Ude-Okoye

Recent social media reports claimed that Ude-Okoye and the PDP National Vice Chairman (South East), Ali Odefa, were arrested for allegedly altering the party’s primary election guidelines following the Imo State Governorship primary.

A PDP chieftain, Mike Iheanaetu, had petitioned the police, alleging that documents presented in court—leading to Ude-Okoye’s affirmation as National Secretary—were forged.

Speaking via telephone from his residence in Enugu on Sunday, Ude-Okoye refuted the allegations, stating:

“I am not in any detention; I am in my house in Enugu and am not under any form of arrest. I am not involved in any forgery of a document, and I will not get involved in forgery of any document. I did not tell anybody to forge any document, and nobody forged any document for me.”

He acknowledged that he was invited to an Abuja police station last Wednesday but clarified that he was released after 20 minutes without any charges being filed against him. Ude-Okoye emphasized that, as a law-abiding citizen, he is willing to cooperate fully with the police investigation.

Iheanaetu, the petitioner, alleged that the disputed documents were undated and unsigned, while the original primary election guidelines bore the signatures of former PDP National Chairman Dr. Iyorchia Ayu and former National Secretary Senator Samuel Anyanwu, dated February 17, 2022.

Background of the Dispute

In December 2024, the Court of Appeal, Enugu Division, upheld a previous ruling by the Enugu High Court, which removed Senator Samuel Anyanwu as PDP National Secretary. The court also directed the party’s Acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum, and the National Working Committee (NWC) to swear in Ude-Okoye as his successor.

However, Anyanwu has refused to vacate the office, claiming he has appealed the ruling and holds a valid stay of execution from the Court of Appeal.

At a meeting on Wednesday, the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) agreed to implement the court’s judgment but has not yet set a date for Ude-Okoye’s swearing-in.