* Resumes office, insists he remains Secretary
* Police storm party Hqts, thugs operate from outside
* Party has no stay of execution of judgment, says Ologunagba
By Folorunso Alagbede, Abuja
In flagrant disregard of the December 20, 2024 judgement of the Court of Appeal, which sacked him as the National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Senator Samuel Anyanwu yesterday resumed office at the party’s headquarters, Wadata House, Abuja.
The court of Appeal, after sacking Anyanwu, had directed that former National Youth Leader of the party, Hon Sunday Udeh-Okoye should to take over the position.
In a manner suggesting that the leadership crisis within the main opposition party is far from being over, Anyanwu stormed the PDP national secretariat with his aides, went straight the office of the National Secretary,
offered prayers and started performing his duties.
The battle, has, however, divided the party stakeholders, who have taken position on the issue.
While some party stakeholders are supporting Anyanwu, others are backing Udeh-Okoye as the new National Secretary.
Aside the party stakeholders, the battle has also divided the National Working Committee (NWC), of the PDP, which have taken side over the development. While some members of the NWC are backing Anyanwu, others are pitching their tent with the former National Youth Leader, Mr ggUdeh-Okoye.
It was gathered that some of the PDP governors, Board of Trustees (BOT) and other organs of the party have taken side with Udeh-Okoye, because of the Court judgment.
While reacting to the Court judgment, Anyanwu on several occasions had said that he is still the National Secretary and nobody can take his position.
But on January 6, 2025, a High Court in Enugu accused Anyanwu of contempt of court.
In the Court notice titled “Notice of Consequences of Disobedience to order of Court Form 48,” said, “take notice that unless you obey the directions contained in this order, you will be guilty of contempt of court and will be liable to be committed to prison.”
Recall that PDP has been embroiled in crisis in the past one year since the party lost the presidential election.
The crisis had divided the party, which eventually led to why PDP lost the election. The battle for the National Secretary, has, however, deepened the crisis rocking the party.
Addressing newsmen in his office as the National Secretary, Anyanwu said that it is only the Supreme Court that can determine his position.
Anyanwu said: “Well, as you can see, I am in the office, just like, you heard last December, precisely the 20th of December.
“As a matter of fact, what the law says is that I should appeal, and I appealed the matter, appeal for stay of execution, and appeal to 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.
“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 as party members ahead of 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”, he said.
While however reacting to the development yesterday, the party National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, said that the party would obey Court judgment.
But Anyanwu said that is his (Ologunagba’s)opinion and not the opinion of the party, adding, “he only just made a statement, and as National Publicity Secretary of our party, I don’t want to disparage him on any medium.
“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.
“And he’s a lawyer, so he should understand that that is the position of the law.”
“Speaking to newsmen, while reacting to Anyanwu’s briefing on his resumption and the stay of execution allegedly granted to him, the PDP spokesman, Ologunagba said the party has not received any stay of execution, adding that Anyanwu’s resumption is unfortunate.
He 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 filed and served 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”, Ologunagba said.
He condemned what he called, “unfortunate situation’ whereby thugs invaded the party on Monday, Ologunagba said, “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”, he said.
Speaking further on the Court judgment, the PDP spokesman said, “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.
“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.”
