Olayinka anchored his argument on the crisis surrounding the position of PDP’s National Secretary.
By Kehinde Okeowo
Lere Olayinka, media aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has said Nigerian’s major opposition party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), may not field a presidential candidate in 2027.
He made this known recently in a post he shared on his official X page.
Olayinka, who is the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media to the minister, anchored his remark on the crisis surrounding the position of the party’s National Secretary.
Samuel Anyanwu and Sunday Ude-Okoye have been at parallel ends over who is the authentic PDP’s National Secretary despite a Supreme Court judgment.
The fight for PDP’s authentic National Secretary began when Anyanwu vacated the position to contest for governorship in Imo State in 2023.
While away, the Southeast caucus of the party endorsed Ude-Okoye as Anyanwu’s replacement.
But Anyanwu returned to reclaim his position after losing the governorship election.
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Aggrieved by his action, Ude-Okoye approached the law courts to seek redress.
While a High Court had sacked Anyanwu, the Supreme Court, in March, gave a judgement that has further worsened the crisis.
However, speaking on the development on his verified social media handle, Olayinka said PDP’s constitution is clear on who is the National Secretary.
He further argued that since Anyanwu did not resign, he remains the rightful National Secretary of the party.
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, and 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.”
Olayinka added, “Like I said four months ago, PDP may not field any candidate now, 2026 and 2027.”
