 Governors’ Forum, Senator Samuel Anyanwu has resumed office as the party’s National Secretary at its headquarters in Abuja.){kind=link}
Despite opposition from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum, Senator Samuel Anyanwu has resumed office as the party’s National Secretary at its headquarters in Abuja.
The governors had endorsed Sunday Ude-Okoye for the position, citing an Appeal Court ruling. Led by Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, the forum confirmed Ude-Okoye as the party’s scribe last Friday and instructed the National Working Committee (NWC) to implement the court’s decision.
However, Anyanwu, dressed in white, arrived at the PDP National Headquarters at Wadata Plaza on Monday afternoon and proceeded to his office to continue his duties, defying the governors’ directive.
The PDP has been grappling with internal conflicts, particularly after the 2023 general elections, which have deepened divisions within the party. Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum has faced criticism for his inability to unify the party since succeeding former Chairman Iyorchia Ayu.
The battle for the National Secretary position has further intensified tensions. In 2023, the PDP’s South East zone nominated Ude-Okoye, a former National Youth Leader, to replace Anyanwu, who had become the party’s governorship candidate in Imo State.
A December 20, 2024, ruling by the Court of Appeal in Enugu declared Ude-Okoye as the rightful National Secretary, and the PDP leadership was officially notified on December 24.
However, the Court of Appeal in Abuja issued a restraining order on January 27, 2025, allowing Anyanwu to remain in office until the Supreme Court delivers a final judgment.
Tensions escalated last Wednesday when Anyanwu’s supporters forcibly removed Ude-Okoye from a Board of Trustees meeting, prompting security intervention. In response, PDP governors, during a meeting in Asaba, Delta State, reaffirmed their support for Ude-Okoye and urged the NWC to enforce the Appeal Court’s decision.
Anyanwu has petitioned the Inspector General of Police, the Supreme Court, and the Appeal Court, insisting that he remains the legitimate PDP National Secretary.
He described the governors’ endorsement of Ude-Okoye as an act of provocation and called for urgent intervention to prevent further escalation of the crisis.