•Sam Anyanwu
A group of senior party stakeholders under the banner of the Peoples Democratic Party Concerned Stakeholders (PCS) has issued a stern warning to the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), calling for an immediate end to what it describes as a “sustained and unjustified” crisis on the secretaryship of the party.
In a statement released today, the PCS advised that the best solution to the crisis is to allow the National Secretary, Sam Anyanwu, to serve out his tenure, thereby addressing the quagmire in which the party finds itself regarding the secretaryship.
A three-member committee established by the National Executive Committee (NEC) revealed last month that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) recognises Anyanwu as the party’s national secretary in line with a Supreme Court judgment, reports The Guardian.
The committee was led by Taraba State governor, Agbu Kefas, with Governors Dauda Lawal (Zamfara) and Peter Mbah (Enugu), and PDP National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN).
Accordingly, the PCS called on key organs of the party, including the South-East Zonal Caucus, the PDP Governors Forum, the National Executive Committee (NEC), and the Board of Trustees (BoT) to restore unity, uphold the rule of law, and allow Senator Sam Anyanwu to serve out the remaining months of his constitutionally recognised tenure.
The group cited the March 21 ruling of the Supreme Court, which it says unequivocally affirmed Senator Anyanwu’s position as the party’s National Secretary. It also referenced formal recognition by INEC, arguing that further attempts to unseat him not only defy legal precedent but also risk plunging the PDP into deeper turmoil.
“What was once a resolvable internal disagreement has now snowballed into a festering wound in the heart of the PDP,” the statement read. “We find it deeply troubling that, nearly a year after this crisis erupted, the party leadership has allowed it to escalate rather than enforce its resolution through lawful means.”
The PCS, led by Aminu Das Sadiq, compared the ongoing dispute to a similar crisis in 2024 involving the National Publicity Secretary and National Legal Adviser — a conflict that was resolved through negotiation and party mechanisms. They questioned why the same diplomatic and constitutional channels are not being applied in Anyanwu’s case.
The dispute over the party’s secretaryship has deepened fault lines within the party. The PCS warned that the South-East Zonal Caucus is now fractured, the National Working Committee (NWC) is in disarray, and unity among PDP governors is under strain. The group cautioned that if the internal feud is not contained, it could weaken the party ahead of critical electoral contests.
“The implications are already manifesting,” the PCS said.
“The NEC and BoT are no longer speaking in one voice. Even the PDP Governors Forum, once a symbol of cohesion, is being pulled in opposite directions. This is a tragedy we cannot afford.”
According to the PCS, the effort to remove Senator Anyanwu is motivated more by personal ambition than party interest. They accused unnamed stakeholders of viewing the position of National Secretary as a “political prize” rather than a party institution protected by the constitution.
“Let it be known: only a properly convened National Convention can remove a sitting National Secretary,” the statement declared. “Any communication or decision made outside this legal framework is null and void and carries no weight before INEC or in the court of public opinion.”
Senator Anyanwu, who has less than six months remaining in his tenure, reportedly enjoys the support of a significant bloc within the party, including governors, National Assembly members, and grassroots mobilizers. The PCS warned that his unlawful removal could trigger mass defections and permanently damage the PDP’s electoral prospects.
The PCS specifically appealed to key figures, including Governor Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), Governor Seyi Makinde (Oyo), and Governor Peter Mbah (Enugu), urging them to help de-escalate tensions and steer the party back toward unity.
They also called on acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, and the NWC to recognise the authority of the courts and INEC by respecting Senator Anyanwu’s legal mandate.
“As dedicated stakeholders of the party, we issue this solemn appeal: let Senator Anyanwu serve out the remainder of his constitutionally mandated tenure,” the group said. “Anything short of this is contemptuous of the law and deeply injurious to party discipline.”
