The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is grappling with renewed internal crisis as Samuel Anyanwu maintains his position as the party's legitimate National Secretary, challenging the validity of the recent Ibadan gathering that elected new party officials.
Anyanwu's Defiant Stance
In an exclusive interview with Daily Trust, Anyanwu boldly declared that he remains the authentic holder of the PDP National Secretary position, dismissing the Ibadan event as nothing more than a "jamboree" that failed to meet statutory requirements for a proper national convention.
The embattled party secretary emphasized that his tenure officially expires on December 8, and any decisions made without his participation hold no legal weight within the party's constitutional framework.
Constitutional Violations Alleged
Anyanwu argued that according to Section 36(1e) of the PDP constitution, he should have presided over the convention and delivered the crucial "State of the Party" report. His absence from the Ibadan gathering, he insisted, rendered the entire proceeding null and void.
"The truth is that Makinde just commissioned a new motor park in Ibadan and invited some party leaders to join him in that commissioning. That's what actually happened. There is nothing like a PDP convention," Anyanwu stated, fundamentally challenging the nature of the event that elected Kabiru Turaki as the new national chairman.
Leadership Vacuum and Future Directions
Anyanwu revealed that party members and stakeholders would soon convene to determine the party's way forward. This crucial meeting will decide whether to organize a proper national convention or appoint a caretaker committee before the current leadership's mandate expires in December.
"We are going to talk to our people, meet with them, discuss with members of the PDP, stakeholders at the appropriate time, and look at what the party is going to decide going forward," Anyanwu explained, emphasizing that the decision rests collectively with party members rather than any individual.
In a significant twist, Anyanwu claimed that former National Chairman Umar Damagum had effectively removed himself from office by participating in what he termed an "illegal convention." He asserted that "the only person removed by that jamboree is the former chairman, Damagum," while maintaining his own position remains secure.
