The fight for control within the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) escalated following the Supreme Court decision on Friday.
Naija News is reportedly celebrating the verdict that Wike’s allies recognized his loyalist control of the Rivers State House of Assembly, while his opponents within the PDP hierarchy are reportedly worried as they await a Supreme Court’s decision on the party’s state chief position.
The conflict welcomes Week’s ally Sen. Samuel Anyanne against Hon. Sunday Udeh-Okoye enjoys supporting the PDP Governors Forum and the Party Council of Trustees (BOT). The Supreme Court is scheduled for a hearing on March 10th and has considered Anyan’s appeal against his departure, previously upheld by the Court of Appeals.
One pressing concern among PDP stakeholders is the proposal by the PDP Governor Forum and the National Working Committee (NWC) bots to convene the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting by March 13th.
The final PDP NEC meeting was held on April 18th, 2024. Another meeting was first set up in October 2024, but later postponed indefinitely. A new push from the Governor’s Forum for the March 13 meeting and the Bott revived tensions in the Limbo National Secretary’s Office, particularly amid the ongoing leadership struggle.
On February 6, 2025, the Supreme Court set a hearing date for Anyang Wu’s appeal on March 10th. Anyanwu, represented by his lawyer, Ken Njemanze (SAN), challenges the Court of Appeal on December 20, 2024.
Anyanwu argues that fraudulent documents are being used against him in the lower court, and that the appeal court has stepped over its authority by ruling to determine the issue of internal parties. He further argues that the PDP constitution clearly outlines a four-year single term of office for party officials.
Respondents to the case include the PDP and its national chairman, Ambassador Ilya Damagun.
Reports suggest that the power bloc, which seeks to lift both Anyanwu and Damagum, is banking the bank to the Supreme Court, which is disadvantaged against Anyanwu. If that happens, they aim to use the NEC conference to drive Damagum out as the deputy national chair.
“No one wants to talk about it now. I’m really looking forward to the verdict on March 10th. And if that’s what we expect, we can expel them (Damagum and Anyanwu) and give the party a fresh start,” the bot member said anonymously.
Beyond the Supreme Court decision on Friday, Wike supporters have garnered even more confidence from the recent federal high court decision in Abakariki that upheld the expulsion of former PDP vice-president (southeast) Prime Minister Ali Odefa. Odefa played an important role in supporting Ude Okoye’s bid for the status of national secretary.
Additionally, last Monday, Judge Inan Ekubo of the Federal High Court in Abuja granted Anyanwu’s application to curb the Independent National Election Commission (INEC) from allowing the removal of PDP as state chief.
Amid the ongoing legal battle, PDP leadership remains cautious, especially in the upcoming Anambra Governor Election scheduled for November 8th, 2025. Meanwhile, the party declined to allow Udeokoi to sign official documents despite pressure from some stakeholders.
Tensions have been further strengthened at the PDP National Secretariat as the power struggle continued between Wike and the Atiku Abubakar faction. The party recently rejected a letter introducing the newly elected North and South Zonal Working Committee, chaired by Weekly Lairist Chief Dan Orbi, following the assembly in Cross River.
The letter addressed to Senator Anyanne as the Secretary of State, is repeatedly engraved as “rejected mail” by the PDP Bureau’s Mobilization Bureau upon arrival, reflecting the growing gap within party leadership.
