Court Reinstates Ally Anyawu as PDP National Secretary
The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has affirmed Samuel Anyanwu, an ally of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, as the national secretary of the party, ending months of internal conflict over the position.
Umar Damagum, acting national chairman of the PDP, announced the decision at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, where he was flanked by Bala Mohammed, chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Senate Minority Leader Abba Moro, and other party officials.
“Anyanwu is resuming as the national secretary,” Damagum declared. He admitted the decision was a challenging one, saying, “The resolution to recognise Anyanwu as national secretary was a ‘difficult’ one.”
The announcement came less than 24 hours after top PDP leaders, including governors and members of the NWC, held a closed-door meeting with Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman Mahmood Yakubu.
The confirmation of Anyanwu comes amid a longstanding tussle over the office. After emerging as PDP’s governorship candidate in Imo State in 2023, Anyanwu’s position became contested. In December 2024, the Court of Appeal ruled that Sunday Udeh-Okoye should replace him, a decision backed by the PDP’s South-East zonal leadership.
Anyanwu, however, obtained multiple court injunctions blocking his removal. The Court of Appeal later dismissed one such order on December 20, 2024, calling it “lacking in merit.”
Despite the court’s ruling, Anyanwu insisted he remained the party’s legitimate secretary, stating in January that there was no faction in the PDP.
Meanwhile, Damagum confirmed that the planned National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting for June 30 has been shelved in favour of an “extended caucus meeting.”
“At the next caucus, we will make a decision leading to a proper NEC,” Damagum said.
