The embattled National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Samuel Anyanwu, has refused to relinquish his claim to the office, even after a ruling from the Court of Appeal validated Sunday Ude-Okoye as the rightful holder of the position.
Anyanwu reiterated his stance during an appearance on Nigeria Right Now, a current affairs program hosted by Dickson Iroegbu.
The PDP continues to face a leadership dispute as both Anyanwu and Ude-Okoye assert their entitlement to the role of National Secretary.
On Tuesday, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, addressed the matter, confirming that the party would comply with the Court of Appeal ruling, which recognized Ude-Okoye as the legitimate National Secretary. Speaking at the party’s national headquarters in Abuja, Ologunagba stated, “The PDP is a law-abiding party, and we are committed to fully implementing the dictates of the court.”
However, Anyanwu rejected the party’s position, declaring that he was actively challenging the Court of Appeal’s decision. He emphasized that he still holds the office of National Secretary, citing a series of court rulings that have supported his stance.
Anyanwu explained, “As of today, I am still the national secretary of PDP. On December 20, there was a ruling by the Appeal Court in Enugu that reaffirmed the judgment of the state high court there.” He also referenced a previous ruling from the Federal High Court, which had affirmed his position as National Secretary. “Earlier, in November 2023, a state high court had ruled that I should have resigned before contesting for the governor’s office. I then approached the Federal High Court in Abuja, which upheld that my position, as elected by convention, remains valid until my term officially ends on December 9, 2025.”
Anyanwu further stated that despite the judgment from the Appeal Court, the matter was still in dispute, as he filed an appeal on the same day the ruling was delivered and requested a stay of execution. “The Appeal Court is not the highest court in the land, which is why we have appealed the decision and sought a stay of execution, meaning the status quo remains in effect,” he said.
Despite the ongoing leadership conflict, Anyanwu assured that there is no faction within the PDP, maintaining that the party remains united under the leadership of Umar Damagum, who serves as the acting national chairman. “There is no faction in PDP. The party is being led by the acting national chairman, Umar Damagum,” Anyanwu concluded.
This leadership struggle within the PDP highlights a deeper internal crisis as both sides continue to assert their legitimacy in the face of legal challenges and conflicting court rulings.
