The embattled National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Samuel Anyanwu, has again cleared the air on key issues surrounding his position and the ongoing internal wrangling in the party.
In a recent press briefing, Anyanwu stated unequivocally that his decision to contest the Imo State governorship election, while retaining his post as national secretary was constitutional.
He clarified that this provision was not created by him but was part of an amendment carried out during the tenure of Prince Uche Secondus as national chairman of the PDP.
According to him, Section 47 of the PDP constitution, permits elected party officials to contest other elections without vacating their posts.
“I didn’t amend the constitution. I inherited what was already in place,” he emphasized.
Anyanwu went on to say that since his election on November 23, 2023, and the court judgment he obtained on January 9, 2024, affirming his position, he has remained active on duty without relenting.
He challenged those claiming he is no longer the national secretary, stating that such claims render every document he has signed, from state congresses to governorship nominations for the said period, null and void if they were true.
“So, if you can take the document he signed as legit during his stay, why can’t you accept him in person,” he said.
Speaking on the question of INEC’s recognition, Anyanwu recounted:“The chairman of the governors’ forum went to INEC and confirmed from them that I’m the national secretary, some people said it’s not true.
“The organising secretary went to same INEC and confirmed, they still said it’s not true, the legal adviser gave his own opinion, they said it’s not true.
“Now, people who said it’s not true went to INEC, and confirmed to them. And they went to stakeholders meeting, and didn’t say it openly.”
This is contained in a statement issued on Sunday by Prince Ify Chijoke, special adviser media and publicity to the PDP national vice chairman, South-East zone.
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He also debunked claims of PDP’s involvement in any coalition or merger talks, saying he was the first to speak publicly against it, before the governors followed suit.
According to him, PDP remains a national party that first took power back from the military, and with structures in every corner of the country and is not desperate to merge into any alliance.
“Others should join us, not the other way around,” he said.
Addressing some of the individuals behind the recent tensions in the party, Anyanwu didn’t mince words. He criticized those parading themselves as South East PDP leaders, stating that some of them, including board of trustee chairman and Achike Udenwa, attended the same coalition meeting before coming to hold a so-called stakeholders’ meeting aimed at removing him.
He recalled his long-standing conflict with Udenwa who went to Arise TV to demarket him, dating back to when he supported Senator Araraume for Imo governorship while Udenwa was in office.
