Samuel Anyanwu, the embattled National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has reaffirmed his position as the legitimate holder of the office. This assertion comes amid an ongoing leadership tussle within the party, with Sunday Ude-Okoye also claiming the same role.
Speaking on Nigeria Right Now, a current affairs program hosted by Dickson Iroegbu, Anyanwu stated that despite recent court rulings, he remains the National Secretary of the PDP. This dispute escalated after the Court of Appeal ruled in December 2024 that Ude-Okoye should replace Anyanwu.
The disagreement originated from the Southeast Zonal Executive Committee’s decision to nominate Ude-Okoye as a replacement after Anyanwu emerged as the PDP’s gubernatorial candidate in Imo State during the 2023 elections. Although Anyanwu secured multiple court injunctions to prevent his removal, the Court of Appeal overturned these rulings, describing them as lacking merit.
Following the Appeal Court’s judgment on December 20, Ude-Okoye began presenting himself as the party’s National Secretary. However, Anyanwu disclosed that he has appealed the ruling and filed for a stay of execution at the Supreme Court, effectively maintaining his claim to the office.
“As of today, I am still the National Secretary of the PDP. On December 20, there was a court judgment from the Court of Appeal in Enugu affirming the state high court’s ruling. However, I had already obtained a federal high court judgment that upheld my position,” Anyanwu stated.
He further emphasized that his term, which was secured through the party’s national convention, is valid until December 9, 2025. Referring to an earlier judgment from November 2023 that required his resignation to contest for governor, Anyanwu argued that the federal high court’s decision supercedes it.