The internal crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) intensified on Wednesday as embattled Senator Samuel Anyanwu criticized the Board of Trustees (BoT) for its decision to confirm Sunday Ude-Okoye as the party’s National Secretary.
In an exclusive interview with journalists, Anyanwu rejected the BoT’s move, arguing that the majority of its members’ tenures expired in October 2024, rendering their decision invalid.
Earlier in the day, the BoT, led by former Senate President Adulphus Wabara, defended their position, claiming it was made after thorough review of a committee report led by Tanimu Turaki. The board’s decision, they argued, was in line with the Appeal Court’s ruling, which affirmed Ude-Okoye’s legitimacy as National Secretary.
The rift stems from a longstanding battle within the PDP over the party’s National Secretary position. In 2023, the South East zone of the party nominated Ude-Okoye to replace Anyanwu, who had become the party’s candidate for the Imo State governorship election. This led to further factionalism, as some party members pushed for Anyanwu to step down due to his new political commitments.
The situation escalated in December 2024 when the Appeal Court ruled in favor of Ude-Okoye, confirming his position as National Secretary. Despite the court’s decision, Anyanwu has insisted that he is the rightful officeholder, citing a stay of execution granted by the court.
On January 28, tensions reached a breaking point when Anyanwu’s supporters forcibly removed Ude-Okoye from a BoT meeting. In response, PDP governors, led by Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, endorsed Ude-Okoye, distancing themselves from Anyanwu. They also called on the National Working Committee (NWC) to implement the court’s decision.
In his remarks, Anyanwu dismissed the BoT’s decision as “unfortunate” and legally flawed, citing the temporary nature of the stay of execution that had expired on January 27. He also questioned the BoT’s authority, claiming most of its members’ tenures had expired, with new nominations pending.
Wabara, however, defended the BoT’s actions, stating that the board’s constitutional rights allowed them to make such decisions. He emphasized that the judgment from the Appeal Court was not subject to any further delay, and the stay of execution granted to Anyanwu had indeed lapsed.
With the crisis showing no signs of abating, factions within the PDP are pushing for resolution. Some members of the NWC, as well as former National Publicity Secretary Kola Ologbondiyan, have called for Anyanwu to step aside and allow Ude-Okoye to assume his rightful position. They believe that doing so will help end the party’s ongoing internal strife.
While there is still considerable support for Anyanwu to remain National Secretary, many party leaders are urging him to focus on pursuing his case in the Supreme Court. The escalating tension has put the PDP’s unity at risk, with party leaders stressing that the crisis must be resolved in order to safeguard the future of the party and its role in Nigeria’s political landscape.
