The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s Eminent Stakeholders and Concerned Leaders have reaffirmed Sen. Sam Anyanwu as the duly elected and substantive National Secretary of the party.
The stakeholders made the reaffirmation in a communiqué issued in Abuja on Monday, following a closed-door meeting aimed at finding a lasting solution to the lingering crisis affecting the party.
The stakeholders and concerned leaders were drawn from various states across the federation.
Mr Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, who read the communiqué, said that Anyanwu’s reaffirmation followed the resolutions of the stakeholders in line with the judgment of the Supreme Court.
Wike explained that the meeting was convened to review the state of affairs of the party and to reinforce internal democracy, equity, and justice within the party’s ranks.
He said the stakeholders resolved that the seemingly intractable crisis within the party was due to the inexplicable refusal of a few individuals to adhere to the party’s constitution.
He specifically referenced Section 36(1)(a)(b)(c), Sections 47(3)(5), 48(1)(i), and the definitive Supreme Court judgment regarding the office of the National Secretary.
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The minister expressed concern among the stakeholders that the party was on an inevitable path to self-annihilation.
This, he said, was only likely if urgent steps were not taken to curb the desperate, divisive, and selfish tendencies that had brought the party to its knees in the lead-up to the 2023 election.
He added that these divisive tendencies, unfortunately, had manifested in the conduct of certain interests within the party at the National Executive Committee (NEC), National Working Committee (NWC), and Board of Trustees levels.
The minister further stated that to finally halt the party’s inexorable drift towards extinction, the PDP must, without delay, respect the Supreme Court’s judgment.
“We, therefore, unequivocally reaffirm Sen. Sam Anyanwu as the duly elected and substantive National Secretary of our great party.
“In line with the provisions of our party constitution, only the National Secretary, Anyanwu, can issue notices of meeting of the National Convention, NEC, National Caucus, and the NWC.
“To this end, all notices not issued by him and actions founded on them, including correspondences to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), are null and void and of no effect whatsoever.
“Furthermore, it is clear from the constitution that only the National Convention, properly and duly constituted, can remove Anyanwu as the National Secretary, arising from his status as a member of the NEC of the party.
“We, therefore, demand that the acting National Chairman and the National Secretary jointly issue a notice to INEC with an attached agenda for the NEC meeting of the party, being the only pathway to abide by extant laws.”
Wike reiterated the stakeholders’ commitment to the party and urged all members to uphold the rule of law and respect constitutional mandates.
He also called on members of the party to resist all manoeuvres aimed at destabilising the party and to support the efforts of the National Reconciliation Committee, headed by Sen. Bukola Saraki.
The minister added that the stakeholders had resolved that the party must make an unequivocal pronouncement to zone its presidential candidate to the South in the 2027 elections.
“This is in the spirit of fairness, inclusion, federal character principles, and respect for our party constitution, after the unbroken years of former President Muhammadu Buhari, who is from the North,” Wike said.
Stakeholders at the meeting included former Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu, former Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue, and former Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia.
Also at the meeting were the National Secretary of the PDP, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu, and former Senate Minority Leader, Sen. Philip Aduda.
Former federal and state lawmakers, as well as some zonal and state party executives, among others, also attended the meeting.
