Pandemonium broke out at the headquarters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja on Wednesday as thugs invaded the Board of Trustees (BoT) meeting, causing chaos at the venue.
The meeting, chaired by the Acting National Chairman of the PDP, Amb. Umar Damagum, was attended by several key party members, including National Secretary Sen. Samuel Anyanwu, Senator Ben Obi, BoT Chairman Senator Adolphus Wabara, Board Secretary Senator Ahmed Makarfi, former Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu, Chief Olagunsoye Oyinlola, and former Youth Leader Sunday Ude-Okoye.
Tensions rose when Samuel Anyanwu and Sunday Ude-Okoye, both candidates for the role of PDP National Secretary, argued at the outset of the meeting. Ude-Okoye arrived at the meeting place before Anyanwu and Acting Chairman Damagum but was compelled to leave when Anyanwu arrived.
Recall that in 2023, the PDP’s South East zone proposed former National Youth Leader Sunday Ude-Okoye to succeed Anyanwu as National Secretary after he was chosen as the party’s nominee for Imo State governorship. The South East PDP contended that Anyanwu should resign from his post due to his candidature, sparking further conflict within the party.
On December 20, 2024, an appeal court sitting in Enugu upheld a previous High Court verdict that removed Senator Anyanwu as PDP National Secretary and confirmed Sunday Ude-Okoye as the legitimate officeholder.
However, the Court of Appeal in Abuja issued a restraining order last week, ordering Anyanwu to remain in office as National Secretary until the Supreme Court decides the pending appeal.
Details later…