A fresh crisis erupted in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday as Samuel Anyanwu and Sunday Ude-Okoye clashed violently over the party’s National Secretary position during the Board of Trustees (BoT) meeting in Abuja.
Drama ensued when Ude-Okoye, who arrived early at the meeting venue, was forcefully ejected by suspected loyalists of Anyanwu upon his arrival. The scene quickly turned chaotic, with Ude-Okoye screaming in protest while urging his supporters to resist the removal.
The dispute stems from Anyanwu’s decision to reclaim his seat after losing the Imo governorship election. Following his departure to contest the election, the PDP South-East Caucus endorsed Ude-Okoye as his replacement. However, after his loss, Anyanwu insisted on returning to his role, igniting another power struggle within the party.
Legal rulings have further complicated the matter. On December 20, 2024, the Court of Appeal in Enugu upheld a lower court’s decision that removed Anyanwu and affirmed Ude-Okoye as the rightful National Secretary. Despite the ruling, Anyanwu has continued to challenge the decision, alleging that former PDP South-East Zonal Vice Chairman, Ali Odefa, orchestrated his removal.
The confrontation at the BoT meeting is the latest in a series of internal conflicts that have plagued the PDP, raising concerns about the party’s ability to resolve its leadership crisis ahead of future elections.
