Following the Supreme Court’s recent rejection of Samuel Anyanwu’s request for a stay of execution after he was dismissed as National Secretary by an appellate court decision, insiders have indicated that the power of PDP Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum has diminished.
A crucial ally of Damagum, Anyanwu was instrumental in managing the PDP National Secretariat before losing his job due to legal issues.
Due to persistent legal concerns, his successor, Hon. Sunday Udeh-Okoye, who has the support of the Board of Trustees (BoT) and the PDP Governors’ Forum, is taking it cautiously.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was prevented from dismissing Anyanwu as PDP National Secretary on February 24, 2025, by Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Political and Legal Uncertainty
Udeh-Okoye has refrained from signing important PDP documents, including as those pertaining to the upcoming zonal congresses, because of the legal disputes.
In spite of this, his attendance at last Thursday’s PDP South-South Caretaker Committee inauguration demonstrated the party’s solid support.
The PDP National Working Committee (NWC) met in Abuja last week to talk about the long-delayed meeting of the NEC, the party’s top decision-making body.
According to a party insider, the agenda includes the potential nullification of several state congress results purportedly obtained by supporters of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike; Kogi State is anticipated to be one of the states examined.
Meanwhile, the National Disciplinary Committee, led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s close ally High Chief Tom Ikimi, has recommended that Senator Anyanwu be expelled in response to a petition submitted by Hon. Nurudeen Afolabi Adekambi from Ogun State on behalf of the Young Generation Caucus.
The majority of governorship candidates for the next Anambra election have refrained from making official statements due to the ambiguity surrounding the National Secretary job, out of concern that the legal fight may invalidate important procedures.
A fervent supporter of Wike in the House of Representatives rejected continuous attempts to lessen Wike’s political clout both nationally and in the South-South.
He said that Anyanwu and other Wike supporters were strategically keeping silent on purpose.
He stated: “We know that some people have to, at least temporarily, justify what they had been’mobilized’ to do, and that is why a number of people, including Senator Anyanwu, are remaining silent for strategic reasons.”
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We are aware of the pressure that some PDP governors put on Damagum. The only governor from the South East, one from the South West, and the South-South governors who are showing support for one of them, Fubara, who may unavoidably be headed for his impeachment hearing, all contributed to this pressure.
Let them all enjoy it while it lasts, but take note that Udeh-Okoye will not sign any official PDP documents going to INEC. He confirmed during Thursday’s inauguration of their South-South caretakers that he was at least a National Secretary for that day.
Additionally, because the secretaryship contest could render the PDP governorship candidacy forms invalid, just two or three people have bothered to select them.
He added that despite the current situation, Wike’s influence has not diminished.
“The Wike factor is still very strong in Rivers State,” the congressman continued. A Supreme Court ruling in support of Anyanwu will force them to return to their conspiracy enclaves on a national scale, and no caretaker committee can overthrow it in the South-South.
“We are aware that they are attempting to act quickly because they anticipate that Senator Anyanwu will soon disprove them in front of the Supreme Court.”
