By Cross Udo, Abuja
The embattled National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Samuel Anyanwu, has accused the party’s 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.
Anyanwu, in an interview in Abuja, claimed that the calls for Sunday Udeh-Okoye’s inauguration 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.
Recall that the PDP has been battling internal crises and a leadership tussle driven by factions loyal to the FCT Minister and those resisting his influence within the party.
Anyanwu has reportedly aligned with Wike and is perceived as a key ally of the former Rivers State governor.
He was instrumental in his unsuccessful bid for the Imo State governorship.
He insisted that his detractors were solely motivated by his association with Wike.
Fielding questions on the ongoing crisis in the party in which he is the epicentre, he said: “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.”
Anyanwu, who represented the Imo East Senatorial District, dismissed the legitimacy of the governors’ and BoT’s actions, arguing that neither holds constitutional authority within the PDP.
According to him, “The governors’ forum is a voluntary organization. Any governor can decide to join. It’s not a compulsory thing. It’s a social gathering.”
He emphasised that he had 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 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 followed 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) supported the court’s ruling in favour of Udeh-Okoye.
Anyanwu has insisted that the Appeal Court has granted a stay of execution, and he has also approached the nation’s apex court, the Supreme Court.
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 initiate the process.
