There was a dramatic confrontation at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national headquarters in Abuja yesterday over leadership tussle, as two prominent party members, Senator Samuel Anyanwu and Sunday Ude-Okoye fought dirty.
The meeting presided over by acting national chairman, Umar Damagum became a room of fire as they clashed over the position of national secretary.
The altercation occurred during a Board of Trustees (BoT) meeting, which was attended by several party stalwarts, including acting national chairman, Umar Damagum, and BoT chairman, Adolphus Wabara.
The meeting quickly descended into chaos when Ude-Okoye, who had arrived early, was asked to leave the meeting upon the arrival of Anyanwu and Damagum. Ude-Okoye, however, resisted the request, leading to a heated exchange.
The situation escalated when Ude-Okoye attempted to re-enter the meeting hall, sparking a physical altercation.
Security operatives were swiftly deployed to the PDP headquarters as the clash disrupted the proceedings, with reports suggesting that the meeting was temporarily halted. The standoff left many party members unsettled, and it remains unclear whether the meeting continued or was adjourned.
The tussle stems from a long-standing battle for the PDP national secretary position.
In 2023, the PDP’s South-East zone nominated Sunday Ude-Okoye to replace Anyanwu, following his candidacy for the Imo State governorship election. The zone argued that Anyanwu’s new role required him to resign as national secretary, leading to a protracted legal battle.
Despite an initial ruling in Ude-Okoye’s favor by a High Court and an Appeal Court in Enugu, a recent decision by the Court of Appeal in Abuja complicated matters.
The court issued a restraining order, allowing Anyanwu to remain in office pending the resolution of the case at the Supreme Court.
However, a subsequent ruling by the Court of Appeal in Abuja has introduced a new twist, issuing a restraining order that directs Anyanwu to remain in office pending the outcome of litigation over the matter at the Supreme Court.
Trouble within the PDP began months before the 2023 general election. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the incumbent minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, were the leading party members seeking to pick the party’s ticket for the presidential election held in February 2023.
Meanwhile, Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, accused key party leaders of exacerbating the internal strife that has plagued the party in recent months.
Speaking to the Board of Trustees (BoT) in Abuja on Wednesday, Damagum firmly stated that the crisis, which continues to affect multiple levels of the party, is being driven by individuals who should be working toward unity.
Damagum stressed that the upcoming National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting would proceed in February as scheduled, despite the growing tensions.
“I want to say this with the highest sense of responsibility: part of the crisis within the NWC today is being driven by leaders who should be uniting us,” Damagum said.
Damagum was unequivocal in his call for discipline, cautioning leaders against actions that could jeopardise the ongoing processes for the Zonal Congresses.
“We must not let internal squabbles disrupt the congresses. The shape of our party going forward depends on what we do now,” he stated.
Damagum warned, “You may have ambitions, but you do not ride a dead horse to reach your destination. If you create a crisis simply to further your ambition, you may achieve your goal, but your dream will not be realised because you will have injured the very vehicle meant to carry you forward.”
He appealed to the party leadership to look inward and prioritize the collective good.