- Party chieftains, supporters exchange blows at BoT gathering
- Damagum vows February NEC meeting, says party remains only hope of Nigerians
The leadership crisis rocking the People’s Democratic Party took a violent turn on Wednesday as a Board of Trustees meeting descended into chaos over the battle for the position of the National Secretary of the party.
The meeting presided over by the BoT Chairman, Adolphus Wabara, was disrupted when two contenders for the secretary position, Samuel Anyanwu and Sunday Ude-Okoye, sought recognition as the legitimate occupant.
The composition of the BOT includes all past and serving national chairmen, deputy national chairmen and national secretaries of the PDP who are still members of the party.
Anyanwu arrived early at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, where the BoT meeting was scheduled.
As Ude-Okoye entered the room while Wabara was delivering his speech, he greeted the officials at the high table but notably excluded his rival, Anyanwu.
Shortly after, he was escorted out by security personnel and chieftains of the party who are obviously in support of Anyanwu, leading to a heated exchange.
After Ude-Okoye was practically thrown out of the meeting hall with punches, some other party officials believed to be loyal to Anyanwu blocked the entrance of the meeting hall.
Enraged, Ude-Okoye insisted that he was the rightful occupant of the position based on a Court of Appeal ruling that declared him the authentic national secretary.
He started protesting in the premises of the secretariat as security agents watched.
The pandemonium broke out soon after Wabara and the Acting National Chairman of the PDP, Umar Damagum finished their presentations, the party’s Director of Publicity, Chinwe Nnorom asked the media and non-members of the BoT to leave the hall.
At this point, loyalists of Anyanwu drew the attention of the Senator Ahmed-led BoT Secretariat to the presence of Sunday Ude-Okoye.
One of Anyanwu’s aides, Emmanuel Okoronkwo took it upon himself to physically remove Udo-Okoye. He manhandled him while pushing him out of the hall.
While outside the meeting hall, Ude-Okoye, still agitated, called for his supporters to challenge his ejection. He was seen protesting outside the venue, alleging unfair treatment as Anyanwu’s supporters were allowed to enter the building, while his own were denied access.
The situation led to a heated argument, which prompted more of Ude-Okoye’s supporters to scale the fence to gain entry into the secretariat.
Amidst the commotion, there were exchanges of punches as chairs and objects were thrown, and some party loyalists engaged in physical confrontations, forcing some BoT members to flee the meeting hall.
However, security personnel struggled to maintain order as the 78th BoT meeting continued after order was restored to the party secretariat.
It took the efforts of security reinforcement before palpable calm was restored to the environment. Security operatives were able to temporarily contain the situation while the BoT meeting continued.
A detachment of armed soldiers in five pickup trucks were later brought in as reinforcements to join a team of armed operatives of the Department of State Services and policemen on duty.
Ude-Okoye was not given access to the meeting hall as he kept soliloquizing outside the meeting venue.
Condemning the chaos, the Acting National Chairman of the PDP, Umar Damagum accused some of the party leaders including BoT members of complicity in the ongoing crisis in the party’s National Working Committee.
Damagun who made the allegation while speaking at the meeting cautioned fellow leaders against actions capable of undermining the forthcoming zonal congresses.
The party Chairman’s remarks appeared to be a veiled response to an address earlier presented by the BoT Chairman, Adolphus Wabara.
Damagum said, “I want to say this with the highest sense of responsibility, part of this crisis that you see today within the NWC, is propelled by our leaders who are supposed to unite us.
“And as the conscience of this party, some of us are also complicit. We should look inwards, and search our conscience. This party is dear to all of us, it is the only thing we have.
“It is very unfortunate, I would say it the way it is, where people are called, we all know the working of NWC, some of you here have been NWC members.
“I will be sitting down at the chairman only to see my members called by certain leaders to visit certain places, without my knowledge.
“Each one of you, if you are the chairman, will find it difficult. And I want to use this opportunity to caution us, caution our leaders.
“You may have ambition, but you don’t ride on a dead horse to reach your destination. If you create a crisis simply to further your ambition, you may get what you want, but your dream will not be realized, because, by that time, you have injured the horse you are going to ride to that destination.”
Damagum explained that despite the party’s challenges, it remains the only hope of Nigerians.
He further said, “We should sheath our swords, work towards uniting ourselves so that we will have a credible vehicle that can challenge what is bedeviling us.”
Speaking of plans for the forthcoming National Executive Committee meeting which has been postponed a record three times already, the party Chairman said, “At the last meeting we had with the governors, we all agreed we’ll have NEC.
“I want to assure you that we’ll do everything possible to have this NEC this February. You are all aware we’ve started the process of zonal congresses.
“Even at that, I enjoin our leaders to also be mindful of doing anything that can mar these congresses.
“It is very important to sound this note because whatever we do, is the structure you are building to hold what you have at your hand.
“Like you said, we are supposed to bring credible people. We have had congresses recently in almost 29 states. We have problems in a few states. I think we are getting there.”
Earlier, Chairman of the BoT, Adolphus Wabara said, “Primarily, let me express my profound disappointment over the crises currently rocking the leadership of the National Working Committee.
“As elder statesmen and women; leaders who hold the trust of the generality of our party members and the public, it is disheartening that these issues have not been resolved.
“The failure to resolve these internal conflicts undermines the strength and credibility of our party.
“It is therefore imperative that the NWC rises above personal interests and places the survival and progress of our great party above all other considerations.
“In the light of these challenges, I must emphasize the urgent need for a National Executive Committee meeting.
“I again urge the NWC to honour its words and convene the NEC meeting as scheduled in February 2025.
“It is pertinent to stress that party members across the country are in earnest expectation that the NEC meeting will be held this February.
“The NEC remains the highest decision-making body of our party, and we must convene without further delay to address these pressing concerns.
“The NEC meeting will serve as a platform to reaffirm our shared commitment to the unity, discipline, and ideals that bind us together as members of the PDP.
“As we prepare to conduct our Zonal Congresses, may I remind us all of the critical importance of electing credible leaders at every level of our party’s structure.
“These leaders will serve as the face and voice of the PDP, and they must possess the vision, integrity, and capacity to steer the affairs of the party effectively.
“Let us ensure that the processes are free, fair, and transparent so that the outcome reflects the collective will of our members.
“Despite the challenges we face, let me reiterate that the PDP remains the hope of Nigerians. Our nation has endured years of suffering under the poor policies and governance of the All Progressives Congress.
“Nigerians are looking to us as a beacon of hope, and we cannot afford to let them down. We must rebuild trust and offer a credible alternative that prioritizes the welfare of the people.
“I therefore call on every one of us to set aside personal differences and work collectively to strengthen the PDP.
“This party has weathered storms before, and I have no doubt that we will emerge stronger, more united, and ready to fulfil our historic mission of leading Nigeria to a brighter future.”
The struggle for the national secretary position has continued since 2023, following Anyanwu’s emergence as the PDP’s governorship candidate in the Imo State election. He lost the election to Governor Hope Uzodimma.
His candidacy left a vacancy in the party’s secretariat, leading the South-east Zonal Executive Committee to nominate Ude-Okoye, a former Youth Leader of the PDP, as his replacement.
However, Anyanwu resisted his removal and obtained multiple court injunctions to retain the position. Despite these efforts, in a ruling delivered on 20 December 2024, the Court of Appeal declared that Anyanwu had forfeited his position upon contesting the Imo governorship election.
In the lead judgement by Ridwan Abdullahi, the appellate court said Anyanwu’s claim to the position after he contested and emerged as the PDP governorship election in Imo State violated the party’s constitution, and his appeal had no merit.
Despite the ruling, Anyanwu refused to vacate office and appealed the decision to the Supreme Court. He also filed for a stay of execution, arguing that the appellate court’s decision should not be enforced until the Supreme Court delivers a final verdict.
On his part, Ude-Okoye insisted that he was the rightful secretary based on the strength of his judgement.
Amid the ongoing crisis, PDP Deputy National Publicity Secretary Ibrahim Abdullahi stated that the party would abide by the court order and follow due process in determining who holds the position.
Pundits have said that with the Supreme Court yet to rule on the matter, the battle for the PDP national secretary position may linger even as politicking towards 2027.
