Lere Olayinka, the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has suggested that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) might be unable to present a presidential candidate in the 2027 general elections.
Olayinka attributed the looming uncertainty to the ongoing leadership tussle over the party’s National Secretary position — a crisis that has persisted despite a Supreme Court judgment.
The rift involves Senator Samuel Anyanwu and Sunday Ude-Okoye, both laying claim to the office. The conflict began after Anyanwu vacated the position to contest the 2023 Imo State governorship election, prompting the South-East PDP caucus to endorse Ude-Okoye as his replacement. However, following his loss at the polls, Anyanwu returned to reclaim his position — a move that led Ude-Okoye to seek judicial intervention.
Although a High Court initially ruled against Anyanwu, the Supreme Court’s March judgment has only deepened the division within the party.
Reacting to the development, Olayinka posted on X (formerly Twitter), asserting that the party’s constitution is unambiguous. According to him, since Anyanwu neither resigned nor died, he remains the legitimate National Secretary.
He wrote:
“The only reason you will need party workers to endorse someone as National Secretary of the PDP is because you know that you are doing the wrong thing.
The party constitution and the Supreme Court judgment should be clear enough as to who the National Secretary is. The Deputy National Secretary can only act as Secretary in the event of resignation or death of the National Secretary.
In this case, Senator Samuel Anyanwu has not resigned. He is not dead too.”
Reiterating his earlier position from four months ago, Olayinka warned:
“Like I said, PDP may not field any candidate now, 2026 or 2027.”
The statement has intensified fears among party faithful that the PDP’s internal crisis could cost the party its place in the next electoral cycle.
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