Protesters besiege PDP HQ, say Samuel Anyanwu remains party secretary

January 13, 2025 2:02 pm

Protesters at the PDP headquarters in Abuja

Some protesters have besieged the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) headquarters in Abuja, saying Samuel Anyanwu, the embattled national secretary, is the authentic holder of the office.

The demonstrators, holding placards and posters, assembled at the gate of the PDP secretariat in the Wuse Zone 5 area of the nation’s capital on Monday morning, chanting various slogans, including “senator Sam Anyanwu remains the national secretary”.

Security has been tightened at the secretariat premises to maintain order and prevent chaos.

BACKGROUND

In December, the court of appeal ruled that Sunday Ude-Okoye should replace Anyanwu as the PDP national secretary.

The south-east zonal executive committee of the party nominated Udeh-Okoye to replace Anyanwu after he became the PDP gubernatorial candidate in Imo state in 2023.

Anyanwu had obtained several court injunctions preventing his removal from office.

However, in a verdict delivered on December 20, 2024, Ridwan Abdullahi, the appeal court judge, dismissed the judgment of the high court, which prevented Anyanwu’s removal, for “lacking in merit”.

Following the judgment, Ude-Okoye has been parading himself as the national secretary of the party.

‘I’M THE PARTY’S SECRETARY’

Speaking during an interview over the weekend, Anyanwu said he appealed the judgment and filed for a stay of execution at the supreme court on the same day the appeal court delivered the verdict in favour of Ude-Okoye.

“As we speak today, I’m still the national secretary of PDP,” he said.

Anyanwu reiterated his position on Monday when he arrived at the PDP secretariat.

“As you can see, I’m in the office. As a matter of fact, the ruling of the appeal court judgment has been appealed at the supreme court and there is a stay of execution. So, the position remains the way it is until determined by the supreme court,” he said.