“‘They Are Fighting a Proxy War’ – Anyanwu Reveals PDP Governors’ New Party Agenda”

The Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) controversial national secretary, Senator Sam Anyanwu, has accused the party’s governors and board of trustees (BoT) of trying to have him fired because of his close relationship with Nyesom Wike, the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
PDP governors are allegedly planning to start a new political party, according to Anyanwu’s allegations.
He characterized the drive to install Sunday Udeh-Okoye, who was confirmed as National Secretary by the Court of Appeal, as part of a “proxy war” against him by the BoT and governors in an interview with Saturday Tribune.
Internal disputes within the PDP have been ongoing, with the party mostly divided between groups who support Wike and those that oppose his dominance.

In his unsuccessful quest for the governorship of Imo State, the former governor of Rivers State supported Anyanwu, a well-known Wike loyalist. He said that his friendship with Wike is the only reason his opponents are pursuing him.

Anyanwu called the governors’ forum a “social gathering.” He maintained that neither the governors nor the BoT had constitutional power within the PDP and rejected the validity of their activities.

“The reality is that these individuals are engaged in a proxy conflict. They are aware of Wike and myself. And that’s it. I have nothing against any of them,” he declared.

The governors’ forum is a volunteer organization, he said, characterizing the PDP Governors’ Forum as a club with no legally binding authority. Membership is open to any governor. The requirement is not mandatory. There is a social event.

“I know these people,” he continued, highlighting his well-established position inside the party. They received tickets from the party to run for governor. Before most of them became governors, I served as National Secretary.

Authorities Charged with Planning Party Defection
Anyanwu went on to claim that PDP governors are purposefully inciting internal strife in order to give an excuse for defecting and starting new political organizations.

“The party is problem-free. In order for them to join the parties they wish to build, they are merely generating stress and needless issues,” he said.

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Following the PDP Governors Forum’s formal endorsement of Udeh-Okoye as National Secretary during a meeting in Asaba, Delta State, the tension intensified.

This action came after Udeh-Okoye was confirmed as the legitimate occupant of the seat by a Court of Appeal decision in Enugu.

Udeh-Okoye’s appointment is approved by the BoT.
Following Anyanwu’s temporary resignation to run for governor of Imo State in 2024, Udeh-Okoye was nominated for the post. Even though Udeh-Okoye had previously been nominated by the South-East Zone in compliance with party rules, Anyanwu made an effort to regain the position after his electoral defeat.

In support of the governors’ stance, the PDP’s Board of Trustees adopted a committee report headed by Barr. Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN), which affirmed the court’s decision in favor of Udeh-Okoye.

The governors had suggested a meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC), but Anyanwu disclosed that the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) has not yet met to begin the process.