A South East Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader, Sunday Ude-Okoye, yesterday said he is ready to assume office as the national secretary of PDP as directed by the Court of Appeal judgement on December 20, this year.

Ude Okoye, in a chat with reporters in Abuja, said his assumption of office will be in  obedience to the court of appeal judgement last Friday, which removed Senator Samuel Anyanwu from office as PDP national secretary.

The party chieftain also stated that his mandate enjoys the backing of the governors, noting that his choice to become national secretary was based on a resolution by South East leaders last year.

Ude-Okoye, who noted the appeal suit was filed by Anyanwu while challenging the high court ruling which ordered his exit, expressed confidence that he would get justice in court because he is fighting a just course.

The court of appeal sitting in Enugu sacked Senator Samuel Anyanwu because he did not resign when he contested as PDP governorship in the Imo State gubernatorial election in September 2023.

Anyanwu has however filed a notice of appeal at the supreme court, asking the apex court to stay the execution of the court of appeal court judgement.

Ude-Okoye is however confident that he would get favorable judgement adding he is  the backing.

According to Ude Okoye, “Court of appeal that upheld the high court order in my favour is the second highest court in Nigeria. It mandated me to assume office within 24 hours and I intend to keep faith with the court order.

‘’There were two high court orders on the same matter, so I appealed the judgement of the high court because the two high court orders are of equal jurisdiction and powers.

“It is only a stay of execution that will stop me from assuming office. But as we speak there is no stay. So, I will assume office as national Secretary because nature abhors vacuum,” Ude-Okoye stated.

Recounting his ascension to the position based on the resolution of South East PDP leaders, Ude-Okoye expressed surprise that Anyanwu did not resign in 2023 as he promised the party leaders from the zone at a meeting before the September Imo state governorship election.

Ude-Okoye said Anyanwu has filed a Notice of appeal, no stay has been granted, stressing that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been notified of the Court of Appeal order and the subsequent enrollment order stay.

He added that party leaders from the zone, including the chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees Chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara have spoken in support of the party obeying the court of Appeal order.

According to Ude Okoye, ‘’No PDP Governor is against this judgement. No court except the supreme court that can kill this judgement.

‘’I am not fighting an unjust course PDP Governor in Enugu, BoT chairman and the national vice chairman from the south East are all in support of this order from the court of appeal.

‘’This judgement of the court of appeal will not affect the running of the PDP because it is the judgement of the second highest court in Nigeria. Nobody will resist this judgement because it comes with consequences,” he stated.

He explained that his immediate duty is to ensure that the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting takes place as and when  fixed.