* Umar Iliya Damagum
PDP Acting National Chairman
By Pathfinder Reporter
Thursday February 6, 2025
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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) crisis escalated yesterday, following the rejection of Senator Samuel Anyanwu as National Secretary by the Board of Trustees (BoT).
The highest advisory organ threw its weight behind Sunday Udeh-Okoye.
The BoT’s decision followed the report of the Alhaji Tanimu Turaki panel set up by the body after the invasion of the party secretariat in Abuja by thugs.
Last week, the PDP Governors’ Forum recognized Udeh-Okoye as national secretary, hinging its decision on the Court of Appeal judgment that affirmed his claim.
But, Anyanwu kicked, saying that he had obtained a stay of execution.
Yesterday, the BoT, led by former Senate President Adolphus Wabara, relocated to the Transcorp-Hilton Hotel in Abuja for an emergency meeting.
At the meeting, the party elders insisted that the Acting Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum, should convene the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on March 13.
Wabara announced that BoT members resolved to indefinitely stay away from the PDP national secretariat and hold meetings in other locations for security reasons.
He said: “While we look ahead with optimism, we must also acknowledge the unfortunate incidents that took place during our last BoT meeting.
“These incidents were largely due to inadequate security at the party headquarters.
“As a result, and after thorough consideration, the BoT has resolved that until the security situation is effectively addressed, its subsequent meetings will be held outside of the party secretariat.
“The safety of our members and the integrity of our discussions must never be compromised.
“We call on the party leadership to urgently take necessary steps to rectify this situation so that our secretariat remains a safe and secure place for party affairs.”
Wabara also justified the decision to recognize Udeh-Okoye instead of Anyanwu.
He said: “The BoT, in the exercise of its constitutional powers, exhaustively considered and hereby adopts the report of its committee, led by Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN) on the issue of the National Secretary of the PDP, especially about the declarative judgment of the High Court of Enugu as upheld by the Court of Appeal.
“Consequently, the BoT, by adopting the report, recognizes Hon. Sunday Udeh-Okoye as the substantive National Secretary of the PDP in full obedience to the declaratory judgment of the High Court of Enugu as also upheld by the Court of Appeal, there being no contrary or overriding judgment from any court of superior jurisdiction.
“The BoT charges the National Working Committee (NWC) to recognize and immediately swear in Hon. Sunday Udeh-Okoye as the National Secretary of the PDP in obedience to the Judgment of the Court of Appeal.
“The BoT urges all party organs, critical stakeholders, leaders, and members across the country, as well as all democracy development partners and institutions, to be guided by the judgment of the Court of Appeal about the position of the National Secretary of the PDP.
“The BoT commends the PDP Governors’ Forum, the National Working Committee, Southeast Executive Committee, and all other organs of the party for their steadfastness in upholding the provisions of the Constitution and operational guidelines of the PDP.”
Wabara hailed the BoT, the PDP Governors’ Forum, and the NWC for setting March 13 as the date for the NEC meeting.
He said: “The upcoming NEC meeting is not just another gathering. It is a platform for critical deliberations that will shape the future of our party and by extension, the future of Nigeria.
“I, therefore, urge all members of NEC to come with open minds for meaningful discussions that will address the pressing issues within our party and offer a renewed vision for our country.”
At the PDP BoT meeting were former PDP Caretaker Chairman Senator Ahmed Makarfi, Senator Ben Obi, ex-governors Achike Udenwa, Babangida Aliyu, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, and Sam Egwu; Ambassador Aminu Wali, Hajia Inna Ciroma, Senator Stella Omu, Patrick Ifon, Mike Ogiadomhe and a former minister, Tanimu Turaki (SAN).
* Why BoT backed Ude-Okoye, by Jacob
Former PDP Legal Adviser Mack Jacob said the BoT decision to back Ude-Okoye was right.
He said it would be improper for the NWC to be at loggerheads with the BoT.
Jacob, who spoke on television, said: “The situation whereby any member of the party becomes so powerful and arrogantly so, telling even the governors that their forum is not recognized by the law, shows a clear example of impunity.
“The decision of the BoT today is reasonable because it shows that the party wants to obey court orders and that the party is listening to the voices of the elders of the party.”
Jacob rejected Anyanwu’s position that his appeal at the Supreme Court was a stay of proceedings.
He said: “Only a reckless NWC will be at loggerheads with the BoT because it is only the BoT that can take away the party constitution from the NWC as they are the custodian of the constitution of the party.
“The BoT didn’t share an opinion today, but a decision, because that organ is the conscience of the party.”
Jacob, who called for the dissolution of the NWC, said the body wanted to truncate plans for the NEC meeting.
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