The controversy surrounding the position of the National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has intensified, as the Concerned People’s Democratic League (CPDPL) reaffirmed its support for Senator Samuel Nnameka Anyanwu, insisting he remains the legitimate occupant of the office.
At a press conference in Abuja on Friday, CPDPL’s apex leader, Co Daboikiabo Z. Warmate, accused certain high-ranking PDP members of spreading misinformation and engaging in acts of sabotage aimed at unlawfully removing Anyanwu.
Warmate specifically named Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere (House of Representatives member), Debo Ologunagba (National Publicity Secretary), Kamaladin Ajibade (SAN, National Legal Adviser), and Senator Adolphus Wabara (suspended PDP Board of Trustees Chairman) as individuals allegedly working against the party’s stability.
He claimed that Senator Wabara manipulated the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) list to include Sunday Udeh Okoye, leading to an invasion of the party’s national secretariat by political thugs.
“The suspended BoT Chairman is executing a broader scheme to destabilize the PDP from within,” Warmate alleged. “Wabara has previously used court orders to his advantage, yet now he seeks to deny Senator Anyanwu the same legal protections.”
He warned PDP members against supporting what he described as an “illegal takeover” and urged party loyalists to uphold Anyanwu’s position as National Secretary.
According to Warmate, the crisis began when Senator Anyanwu declared his intention to contest the Imo State governorship election under the PDP banner. After winning the party’s primary, he took an official leave from April 18 to May 24, 2023, notifying the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that the Deputy National Secretary would act in his absence.
However, pressure mounted on Anyanwu to resign—a demand he refused, citing Section 47(5) of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017), which allows him to retain his position while contesting an election.
Anticipating moves to unseat him, Anyanwu’s supporters sought legal protection from the Federal High Court in Abuja, which granted an injunction on January 9, 2024, preventing his removal.
Despite this, an Enugu High Court ruled on October 25, 2023, that his seat was vacant, following a motion filed by Nwabueze Ugwu. Subsequently, the Court of Appeal in Enugu upheld the ruling on December 20, 2024, recognizing Sunday Udeh Okoye as National Secretary and fining Anyanwu ₦1 million.
Warmate argued that these rulings were based on a misinterpretation of the PDP Constitution, stating:
“The appellate court relied on mutilated sections of the PDP Constitution, wrongly concluding that Anyanwu’s emergence as the PDP governorship candidate in Imo State rendered him ineligible to remain National Secretary.”
He emphasized that on January 13, 2025, Anyanwu secured a stay of execution from the Court of Appeal in Abuja, which ordered all parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum until a final determination.
“Despite this legal clarity, certain individuals continue to manipulate the law for personal gain,” Warmate lamented.
Warmate accused Ikenga Ugochinyere of acting as a propagandist in efforts to unlawfully replace Anyanwu, describing him as a “truculent, supercilious snollygoster” (a term for an unprincipled politician).
“Having failed to remove Senator Anyanwu legally, they resorted to engaging a known liar and propagandist—Ikenga Ugochinyere—to push their agenda through the back door,” he alleged.
He further criticized the National Legal Adviser, claiming he once accused him of collecting $2 million from the FCT Minister but is now working with him.
Warmate also took aim at Senator Wabara, accusing him of hypocrisy:
“This is a man who secured two stays of execution within three days in 2023 to become a senator and Senate President, yet he refuses to recognize the same legal principle in Anyanwu’s case.”
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The CPDPL leader praised the PDP National Chairman for handling the crisis with maturity and urged party members to ignore what he described as “false narratives” meant to weaken the party.
“No one can destroy or destabilize PDP. We insist that Senator Samuel Anyanwu remains the authentic National Secretary, in line with the PDP Constitution and Nigerian law,” he declared.
He urged all PDP members who are “ignorantly supporting an illegality” to retract their steps and stand by the party’s leadership.
✔ CPDPL backs Senator Samuel Anyanwu as the legitimate PDP National Secretary.
✔ Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere, Debo Ologunagba, Kamaladin Ajibade, and Senator Wabara accused of plotting to destabilize PDP.
✔ Court rulings contradicting Anyanwu’s position were allegedly based on a misinterpretation of the PDP Constitution.
✔ Federal High Court in Abuja granted an injunction preventing Anyanwu’s removal, and a stay of execution has been issued.
✔ CPDPL warns against illegal takeover attempts, calls for party unity.
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