A new storm is brewing within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as Senator Sam Anyanwu accuses party governors of scheming to break away and establish a new political movement. He also claims the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT) is conspiring to unseat him due to his close ties with Nyesom Wike.
At the center of the dispute is the push to install Sunday Udeh-Okoye as the PDP National Secretary, which Anyanwu describes as a proxy battle waged against him amid escalating internal rifts.
He asserts that the party’s governors are deliberately fueling internal discord as a precursor to their defection, adding another layer of uncertainty to the PDP’s already tense leadership crisis.
Anyanwu vs. PDP Governors: A Brewing Political Showdown
Speaking to The Nigerian Tribune, Anyanwu disclosed that the move to confirm Udeh-Okoye as National Secretary, following a Court of Appeal ruling, is part of a broader strategy to sideline him.
The Wike Factor and Internal Struggles
The PDP has been caught in a power struggle, with one faction aligning with Wike and another resisting his increasing influence. As a known Wike ally, Anyanwu has found himself in the crosshairs, especially after his failed bid for the Imo governorship election.
“The truth is, they are fighting a proxy war. They know my relationship with Wike, and that’s the issue here. I have no personal conflicts with them,” Anyanwu stated.
He further dismissed the legitimacy of the governors and BoT’s interference, insisting they lack constitutional authority over party leadership decisions. “The Governors’ Forum is merely a voluntary organization. No governor is mandated to be part of it—it’s just a social gathering,” he argued.
Governors Accused of Engineering Crisis
Anyanwu contends that certain PDP governors are deliberately instigating internal turmoil as a strategic move before their planned defection.
“There is no real issue within the party. They are just creating problems to justify their exit to another party,” he alleged.
These accusations come on the heels of a recent meeting of the PDP Governors’ Forum in Asaba, Delta State, where the governors backed Udeh-Okoye’s appointment as National Secretary. Their endorsement aligns with a Court of Appeal ruling that upheld Udeh-Okoye’s claim to the position.
The controversy surrounding the role stems from Anyanwu’s temporary resignation to contest the Imo governorship election. After his defeat, he sought to reclaim his former office, but the PDP’s South-East Zone had already nominated Udeh-Okoye in accordance with party protocols. The BoT later endorsed this nomination after reviewing a report led by Barr. Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN), which upheld the court’s ruling.
Uncertainty Over NEC Meeting
Meanwhile, tensions continue to rise over the proposed National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting. Although the PDP Governors’ Forum has called for the meeting, Anyanwu revealed that the National Working Committee (NWC) has yet to take action to convene it.
Article updated 1 month ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
