In response to a clash between Samuel Anyanwu and Sunday Ude-Okoye regarding the rightful National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), security forces have taken over the party’s secretariat. The deployment includes soldiers, police officers, and personnel from the National Security and Civil Defense Corps.
The conflict arose during a Board of Trustees (BoT) meeting when an aide of Anyanwu forcibly removed Ude-Okoye from the gathering shortly after it commenced in private. This led to a heated exchange between the two factions, necessitating intervention from security officials.
The issue of the National Secretary has been contentious since Anyanwu vacated the role to contest for the governorship of Imo State, a race he lost. During his absence, the South East Caucus of the party endorsed Ude-Okoye as his successor. Anyanwu’s efforts to reclaim his former position have further escalated tensions within the party.
On December 20, 2024, an Appeal Court in Enugu upheld a previous High Court ruling that removed Anyanwu from the role and affirmed Ude-Okoye’s legitimacy as the National Secretary. Despite this, Anyanwu has sought a Stay of Execution and Appeal, with Dr. Musa (SAN) appointed as the party’s legal representative by Damagum, complicating the ongoing dispute.
