Anyanwu Rejects PDP BoT’s Order, Questions Legitimacy of Directive

Senator Samuel Anyanwu has rejected the directive from the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) instructing the National Working Committee (NWC) to swear in Sunday Ude-Okoye as the party’s substantive National Secretary.

Anyanwu, a contender for the position, dismissed the BoT’s decision, citing an ongoing court case and questioning the legitimacy of the board members who attended the emergency meeting at Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja. He argued that nearly 80% of those present had their tenures expire in October last year and insisted that the directive held no binding authority.

The PDP chieftain also pointed out that he and the National Chairman, who is a member of the BoT, were not invited to the meeting. “I’m a member of the BoT, I was not invited, and neither was the National Chairman. This shows a lot. In any case, the tenure of about 80% of those at the meeting expired in October last year. They are also aware that this matter is in court. Even Chairman Wabara, who was taken to court, sent a representative. Their advice is just that—advice, and it cannot be taken seriously,” Anyanwu stated.

The BoT had earlier directed the NWC to swear in Ude-Okoye in compliance with a judgment from the Enugu High Court, which was upheld by the Court of Appeal. The decision followed recommendations from a committee led by Saminu Turaki, which examined the legal disputes between Anyanwu and Ude-Okoye over the National Secretary position.

BoT Chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara, who read the communiqué after the meeting, emphasized that the board had carefully reviewed the issue and was acting in line with the party’s constitutional provisions. The BoT affirmed its authority in ensuring internal stability and moral integrity within the PDP and called on all stakeholders to respect the court’s ruling.

The board also commended the efforts of the PDP Governors’ Forum, NWC, and South East Executive Committee in upholding the party’s structure and urged unity ahead of the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting scheduled for March 13, 2025. Wabara noted that the meeting would be held outside the PDP National Secretariat due to security concerns and called on party leadership to address these issues urgently.

Senator Anyanwu, who was the PDP candidate in the 2023 Imo State governorship election, has held onto his position as National Secretary despite opposition from stakeholders in the South East. In a recent meeting in Enugu, key party leaders resolved to replace him with Ude-Okoye, arguing that the position belonged to the zone. The meeting was attended by prominent figures, including BoT Chairman Wabara, BoT Secretary Senator Ahmed Makarfi, and former governors.