PDP throws Anyanwu under the bus

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  • BoT recognises Ude-Okoye as authentic national secretary
  • Anyanwu writes Supreme Court, demands accelerated hearing on dispute
  • Wike, Ortom, others visit Makinde in Ibadan

 

The People’s Democratic Party Board of Trustees has recognised Ude Okoye as the party’s authentic National Secretary.

They urged the party’s national working committee to immediately swear him in as the substantive national secretary of the party.

The decision was taken during an emergency meeting at Transcorp Hilton Hotel Abuja on Wednesday over the party’s lingering crisis.

The meeting was attended by the BoT Chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara; Secretary of the BoT, Senator Ahmed Makarfi.

Others included former governors Achike Udenwa, Sam Egwu, Babangida Aliyu, and Senator Ben Obi, among others.

At the gathering the BoT received report from the former Minister of Special Duties, Tamini Turaki, who was mandated to study the court’s documents submitted by both the PDP National Secretary, Samuel Nayanwu and Sunday Udeh-Okoye who has been contesting the legality of his office.

In his opening remarks, the BoT Chairman commended the PDP governors for asking that the National Working Committee of the party hold its National Executive Council meeting in March.

The BoT Chairman also cited the violence that occurred last week, as the reason why they will not hold their meetings at the Wadata Plaza until security is restored in the secretariat.

Both Okoye and Senator Samuel Anyanwu are laying claim to the PDP Secretary’s office, a development that is now pitching members of the party against one another.

Anyanwu writes Supreme Court, demands accelerated hearing on dispute

However, as the legal fireworks over the PDP National Secretary seat continue, Anyanwu has written to the Supreme Court demanding an accelerated hearing on the issue.

In a letter dated January 29, 2025 and sent to the Supreme Court in Abuja, Anyanwu formally requested an expedited hearing, emphasising that the role of National Secretary was crucial for the PDP, which had been enmeshed in crisis in recent times.

According to the document, Anyanwu’s legal team stated that the dispute over the position of National Secretary of the PDP is harming both the party members and the political landscape.

In the document titled “Motion on Notice brought pursuant to Order 4 Rule 1, Order 6 Rule 5(1) of the Supreme Court Rules, W024, and the inherent jurisdiction of this Honourable Court,” Anyanwu stated that the lower court reviewed the appeal and, in its ruling, rejected the appeal, with Honourable Justice Joseph Eyo Ekanem, JCA, expressing a dissenting opinion.

He thus sought “An order of this Honourable Court granting accelerated hearing of this Appeal i.e. Appeal Number SC/CV/18/2025: Senator Samuel N. Anyanwu V. Aniagu Emmanuel and 3 others.

“An order of this Honourable Court granting departure from the Rules of this Honourable Court by abridging the time within which the respective Respondents may file their Respondents’ Briefs of Argument and the Appellant/Applicant may file his Appellant Reply Briefs.”

Anyanwu’s legal team explained that “Dissatisfied with the judgment of the lower court, the Appellant/Applicant filed an appeal vide a Notice of Appeal on the 27th December 2025. Records of Appeal have been compiled and transmitted and the appeal entered as SC/CV/18/2025: Senator Samuel N. Anyanwu V. Aniagu Emmanuel and 3 others.”

He informed the Supreme Court that he had filed his appellant’s brief of argument and served it on the respondents.

The document added, “The office of the National Secretary is pivotal in the administration of the 2nd Respondent, and by the Constitution of the 2nd Respondent, the signature of the National Secretary is made mandatory for all important correspondence to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other bodies and or institutions.

“That the contention and or dispute in and around the office of the National Secretary of the 2nd Respondent is detrimental to and adversely affecting the members of the 2nd Respondent and the polity.

“The Honourable Court has the inherent powers to grant the application sought by the Appellant/Applicant. The grant of this application is at the discretion of the Honourable Court.

“The Respondents will not be prejudiced if this application is granted. It is in the interest of justice to grant this Application.”

When contacted, Anyanwu stated that he sought an expedited hearing in the interest of the party.

He stated, “I want accelerated hearing because it will be in the best interest. I did this because I am committed to the peace and progress of the PDP.”

The main opposition party’s leadership crisis intensified in 2023 when the PDP South East zone nominated Sunday Ude-Okoye to replace Anyanwu, who contested the Imo governorship election.

On December 20, 2024, the Appeal Court ruled in favour of Ude-Okoye, but the Court of Appeal in Abuja issued a restraining order on January 27, 2025, allowing Anyanwu to remain in office until the Supreme Court’s final ruling.

Anyanwu stated that he sought the expedited hearing out of his commitment to the peace and progress of the PDP.

In response to the issue, the PDP Board of Trustees called an emergency meeting on Wednesday to assess the latest developments in the dispute over the party’s National Secretary seat.

The PDP has been struggling with significant internal turmoil before and after the 2023 general elections, leading to ongoing instability within the party. These issues have resulted in deep divisions, making it challenging to resolve the party’s internal conflicts.

The acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, has faced growing criticisms from party members who blame him for the party’s continued struggles.

He took over from Iyorchia Ayu, the former chairman, who was removed by the court for failing to implement necessary reforms, adding further complications to the party’s leadership transition.

Along with the national secretary position, the leadership tussle in the party has exacerbated and taken a new dimension after several moves for reconciliation proved abortive.

However, the situation took a new turn on January 27, 2025 when the Court of Appeal in Abuja issued a restraining order, instructing Anyanwu to remain in his position until the Supreme Court issued a final ruling.

Tensions escalated on January 29, 2025 when supporters of Anyanwu forcibly removed Ude-Okoye from the Board of Trustees meeting, prompting security intervention to restore order.

In response, PDP governors, led by Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, endorsed the Court of Appeal’s judgment and urged the NWC to take steps to implement it.

They also distanced themselves from Anyanwu, confirming Ude-Okoye as the party’s National Secretary during a meeting in Asaba, Delta State.

In his petition to the Inspector General of Police, Supreme Court and Court of Appeal, among others, Anyanwu insisted that he remained the PDP National Secretary.

He described the decision by the party’s governors to support Ude-Okoye as National Secretary as a call for a crisis and requested their intervention.

Despite the governor’s stance, Anyanwu reported for duty at the party’s national headquarters on Monday, arriving just after 12 noon and heading directly to his office to manage party affairs.

Wike, Ortom, others visit Makinde in Ibadan

In the same vein, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, alongside former Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, paid a condolence visit to Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde on Wednesday, following the passing of his elder brother, Sunday Makinde.

Sunday Makinde died on Friday, January 24, 2025, at 65.

Wike arrived at Makinde’s residence in the Ikolaba Government Reservation Area of Ibadan, the state capital, on Wednesday afternoon, accompanied by Ortom and other dignitaries.