Security forces, including soldiers, police, and members of the National Security and Civil Defense Corps, have taken control of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) secretariat after a confrontation between Samuel Anyanwu and Sunday Ude-Okoye regarding the legitimate National Secretary of the party.
The altercation erupted during a Board of Trustees (BoT) meeting when an aide to Anyanwu forcibly removed Ude-Okoye from the session shortly after it began behind closed doors. This led to a heated dispute between the two factions, prompting security intervention.
The National Secretary position has been a contentious issue since Anyanwu left to run for the Imo governorship, a bid he ultimately lost. In his absence, the South East Caucus of the PDP endorsed Ude-Okoye as his replacement. Anyanwu’s attempts to reclaim his position have only intensified the internal strife within the party.
On December 20, 2024, an Appeal Court in Enugu upheld a previous High Court ruling that removed Anyanwu as the PDP National Secretary and confirmed Ude-Okoye as the rightful secretary. Despite this, Anyanwu has filed for a Stay of Execution and Appeal, with Dr. Musa (SAN) appointed as the party’s legal counsel by Damagum, adding another layer to the ongoing conflict.