Political thugs on Wednesday, invaded the headquarters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja, disrupting the party’s ongoing Board of Trustees (BoT) meeting, and causing chaos at the venue.
The meeting, presided over by the Acting National Chairman of the PDP, Amb. Umar Damagum, was attended by a number of key party members, including National Secretary Sen. Samuel Anyanwu; BoT Chairman Senator Adolphus Wabara; Board Secretary Senator Ahmed Makarfi; Senator Ben Obi; former Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu, Chief Olagunsoye Oyinlola, and former Youth Leader Sunday Ude-Okoye.
Tensions started when Samuel Anyanwu and Sunday Ude-Okoye, both vying for the position of PDP National Secretary, clashed at the start of the meeting.
Ude-Okoye had arrived at the meeting venue before Anyanwu and Acting Chairman Damagum but was forced out after Anyanwu’s arrival.
It would be recalled that in 2023, the PDP’s South East zone nominated former National Youth Leader Sunday Ude-Okoye to replace Anyanwu as National Secretary after he was selected as the party’s candidate for the Imo State governorship election.
The South East PDP argued that Anyanwu should step down from the position due to his candidacy, fueling additional controversy within the party.
An Appeal Court sitting in Enugu on December 20, 2024, upheld a previous High Court ruling removing Senator Anyanwu as the PDP National Secretary and affirmed Sunday Ude-Okoye as the legitimate officeholder.
However, last week, the Court of Appeal in Abuja issued a restraining order, directing Anyanwu to remain in office as National Secretary until the Supreme Court resolves the ongoing appeal.
By Obinna Ezugwu
