The Board of Trustees (BoT) meeting of the troubled Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday turned violent over the battle for the position of national secretary, as supporters scaled the fence to gain entry into the national secretariat of the party in Abuja
Penpushing reports that meeting presided over by Adolphus Wabara the Board of Trustees (BoT) Chairman was disrupted when two contenders for the secretary position, Samuel Anyanwu and Sunday Ude-Okoye, sought recognition as the legitimate occupant.
The situation became messier when Anyanwu arrived early at meeting venue, as well as arrival of Ude-Okoye minutes later and while attempting to enter the meeting hall, but was blocked by party officials believed to be loyal to Anyanwu.
Penpushing further reports that Ude-Okoye at the venue insisted that he was the rightful occupant of the position based on a Court of Appeal ruling that declared him the authentic national secretary of the party
The development, however, led to a heated argument, which was followed with commotion, where chairs and objects were thrown, as well as some party loyalists engaged in physical confrontations, forcing some board members to flee the meeting hall, as security personnel struggled to maintain order.
Penpushing also reports that the composition of the board includes all past and serving national chairmen, deputy national chairmen and national secretaries of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who are still members of the party;
The record showed that struggle for the national secretary position has continued since 2023, following Anyanwu’s emergence as the Governorship candidate of the party in the Imo State election, where he lost the election to Governor Hope Uzodimma.
Penpushing reports that his candidacy left a vacancy in the party’s secretariat, leading the South-East Zonal Executive Committee to nominate Ude-Okoye as his replacement, however, Anyanwu resisted his removal and obtained multiple court injunctions to retain the position.
The ruling delivered on December 20,2024, despite this, the Court of Appeal declared that Anyanwu had forfeited his position upon contesting the Imo state governorship election, and in the lead judgement by Justice Ridwan Abdullahi, the appellate court said Anyanwu’s claim to the position after he contested and emerged as the party governorship election violated the party’s constitution, and his appeal had no merit.
Penpushing further reports that despite the ruling, Anyanwu refused to vacate office and appealed the decision to the Supreme Court, and equally filed for a stay of execution, arguing that the appellate court’s decision should not be enforced until the Supreme Court delivers a final verdict.
The former Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) insisted that he was the rightful secretary based on the strength of his judgement, and amid the ongoing crisis, Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the party Ibrahim Abdullahi stated that the party would abide by the court order and follow due process in determining who holds the position.
Penpushing also reports that with the Supreme Court yet to rule on the matter, the battle for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national secretary position may remain unresolved, and the crisis may continue to escalate.
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