Embattled National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Sam Anyanwu, has accused party governors and the Board of Trustees (BoT) of orchestrating efforts to remove him due to his close relationship with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
In an exclusive interview, Anyanwu claimed that the calls for the inauguration of Sunday Udeh-Okoye as the substantive National Secretary, following his affirmation by the Court of Appeal, are part of a “proxy war” led by governors and the BoT against him.
The PDP has been grappling with internal strife, driven by factions loyal to Wike and those resisting his influence within the party. Anyanwu, aligned with Wike, has been perceived as a key ally of the former Rivers State governor, who was instrumental in his unsuccessful bid for the Imo State governorship.
Anyanwu insisted that his detractors are solely motivated by his association with Wike. “The truth of the matter is that these people are fighting a proxy war. They know my relationship with Wike. That’s all. I don’t have any issue with any of them,” he asserted.
He dismissed the legitimacy of the governors’ and BoT’s actions, arguing that neither holds constitutional authority within the PDP. “The governors’ forum is a voluntary organization. Any governor can decide to be a member. It’s not a compulsory thing. It’s a social gathering,” he explained.
Anyanwu emphasized that he has held his position as National Secretary since before most of the current governors took office. “I know these people. The party gave them tickets to become governors. I was National Secretary before most of them became governors,” he stated.
Anyanwu alleged that the state governors are manufacturing crises within the PDP as a precursor to defecting and establishing their own political parties. “There is no issue in the party. They are just creating tension, causing unnecessary problems for them to go to the respective parties they want to form,” he claimed.
The controversy intensified after the PDP Governors Forum, during a meeting in Asaba, Delta State, endorsed Udeh-Okoye as National Secretary. This endorsement came on the heels of a Court of Appeal ruling in Enugu that recognized Udeh-Okoye as the legitimate officeholder. Udeh-Okoye’s appointment follows Anyanwu’s temporary resignation to contest the 2024 Imo State governorship election. After his electoral defeat, Anyanwu sought to reclaim the National Secretary position, despite the South-East Zone’s nomination of Udeh-Okoye in line with party protocols.
The BoT reinforced the governors’ decision by adopting the report of a committee led by Barr. Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN), which supported the court’s ruling in favour of Udeh-Okoye.
Regarding the proposed National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting recommended by the governors, Anyanwu revealed that the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) has yet to convene to set the process in motion. (Nigerian Tribune)
