Crisis in PDP As Anyanwu Defies Court Order

Senator Samuel Anyanwu has officially resumed his role as the National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He arrived at the party secretariat at approximately 10:56 AM, accompanied by tight security, and went directly to his office, where he was welcomed by his personal staff. A team of armed policemen, led by a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) in a patrol van, was stationed outside the party’s headquarters at Wadata Plaza, Wuse Zone 5, to support the policemen regularly assigned to the PDP secretariat.

While sitting at his desk and speaking to reporters, Anyanwu dismissed a statement attributed to the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba. Ologunagba had confirmed to reporters that the party had received an Appeal Court judgment recognizing Sunday Ude Okoye as the national secretary.

Responding to this, Senator Anyanwu said “That is his opinion. It’s not the opinion of the party.  As national publicity secretary of the party, I wouldn’t want to disparage him. Maybe he didn’t get the facts correctly, I have appealed.

“But as a matter of fact, what the law says is that I should appeal, and I appealed the matter, appeal for a stay of execution, I’ve appealed to the Supreme Court.

“Maybe he didn’t get the facts correct, or probably he never knew that the matter has been appealed, and it’s in the Supreme Court.

“Obviously what it means is that the position will remain as it is until it is determined by the Supreme Court. Today is our resumption day and he’s a lawyer, so he should understand that that is the position of the law.

“What I have to say is that this party belongs to the people, not to an individual, not to a person, not to a group, but to the people because this is the only party that took power away from the military and this party is in every family in Nigeria.

“So, I always ask for our party faithful to be strong, to remain firm with the party, and let’s work together for 2027; it’s possible for us to get that presidency, which all of us have been suffering from, and that’s why we’re here anyway.”

However, the party scribe begged to differ with his statement. Responding to the statement, Debo Ologunagba, the National Publicity Secretary of the party said, “We have not received any stay of execution. Anyanwu’s resumption is unfortunate; this is not the time for the party to go through this kind of embarrassing situation. We are a country of rule of law and order.

“If you have a stay of execution, it’s a process. You have to serve the parties involved. As I said, the party, PDP, has not received either a notice of motion for a stay or been served a stay of execution.

“I don’t know where that is coming from, but the party has a process. When the document comes in, I will be made aware through the legal adviser.

“As we speak, I have no information at this time that the party has been served either a motion for stay or a stay of execution.

“I am not going to predict what the party will or will not do. I know very well that when you have a stay of execution, there’s a process. When you apply for a stay, there is a motion you must have file and serve before the court can listen to that motion and take action.

“As I speak to you, this party has not received a motion on notice for a stay application, nor, to my knowledge, has the party received a stay order granted by a court of competent jurisdiction.

“It’s just unfortunate that this drama is going on, but again, what is more condemnable is the attempt to resort to self-help. We have information about the activities of thugs from Niger State.

“We are privy to the communication involved, including the emails that were sent by bank transfer. We have details of that. All of these were done at the behest of Senator Anyanwu. It is unfortunate that a former senator should be a lawbreaker.

“There is a process; let’s agree on the rule of law. We have no personal issues with him. I don’t think the party has personal issues. He went to court and appealed the case but did not let the process proceed.

“As I’ve said before, we don’t do self-help. It’s a process. We are a law-and-order party. Because we are a law-and-order party, that is why we don’t act impulsively.
“We see the hand of the third force in this matter. We suspect that, unfortunately, some members of the party are being used by the ruling party to disturb us so that the party will have issues going into the next election because of the fundamental failure of the APC.

“Having said that, we are a party of law and order. We will follow through with the process. We don’t do self-help. We are not in the jungle.

“PDP will continue to do what is in the interest of the party, in accordance with the law and the constitution.

“Don’t forget, the judgment granted is a declaratory judgment. That cannot be stayed. It’s clear.

“If they have applied for a stay, let the court decide one way or the other. And whatever the court decides, this party will abide by that.”

The court, however, recognizes that the National Secretary, Hon. Sunday Ude Okoye, did not resume as previously anticipated.