The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is facing fresh turmoil within its National Working Committee (NWC) as the legal battle over the position of national secretary intensifies.
The internal divisions deepened following the decision of the Court of Appeal in Enugu that sacked Senator Samuel Anyanwu and appointed former national youth leader Sunday Okoye as the substantive national secretary.
A senior NWC official, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed to Punch that the verdict divided opinion within the party leadership.
Acting National Chairman Umaru Damagum and National Organizing Secretary Umaru Bature are reportedly cautious about the verdict, while others including PDP Legal Advisor Kamaludeen Ajibade, SAN, National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba NWC members are insisting on enforcement of the judgment.
“The majority of us are clear that the court’s decision must be upheld. The judgment is binding and delaying it will only exacerbate the party’s challenges,” the official said. said.
The judgment came after years of controversy following the South East PDP’s nomination of Mr Ude Okoye to replace Mr Anyanwu, who was the party's gubernatorial candidate in the Imo State elections.
The appointment triggered a legal battle, with conflicting court decisions complicating the matter until the Court of Appeal upheld the Enugu High Court decision.
Party insiders have accused Damagum of using Anyangwu’s support to maintain his position amid the NWC’s factional crisis.
The National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, reaffirmed the party’s position of respecting the court’s decision. “PDP is a law-abiding party. We will abide by the judgment in the interest of justice and party unity,” he said.
But Damagum’s efforts to appeal the verdict have raised concerns among members that the leadership is putting sectarian interests ahead of unity.
He said: “What I do know is that the NWC is once again divided. Damagum, NOS and Anyangwu are on one side and will either appeal until a political solution is found or, in some cases, decide against the judgment.” attempts to delay the execution of
“Meanwhile, some NWC members such as the National Counsel Ologunagba, the Minister of Finance and the PDP Treasurer want Mr. Anyanwu removed and Mr. Okoye supported as PDP National Secretary.
“There is a palpable sense of fear in the party at the moment. This has reignited the crisis in the party’s NWC. Wike supports Damagum and Anyanwu in their bid to overturn the verdict; The party has the support of Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, Rivers State Governor Simu Hubala and several other governors and party leaders.
Mr. Okoye, in his reaction to the development, said he was the legitimate national secretary of the party in accordance with the judgment of the Enugu Court of Appeal.
The former National Youth Leader, who maintained that Anyanwu’s removal from office was valid, confirmed that the PDP remains a unity party.
He said: “The Enugu judgment of December 20, 2024 allows me to take over as the PDP National Secretary while Mr. Sam Anyanwu is now the former National Secretary.
“The judgment was very clear and I have resumed my role as PDP national secretary. Although the judgment directed me to take the oath within 24 hours, I heard the voices of party members who openly rejected this judgment. Therefore, this judgment completes my position as the de facto Secretary of State for the PDP.
In an interview with Punch, Anyanwu said: “The matter was appealed on the same day. So, as I am concerned, there is no issue with that.”
