By Nnameka Austin, Abuja
In what appears to be the final resolution over the ceaseless bickering over who is the authentic National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared that Sen. Samuel Anyanwu is the duly elected national scribe of the party.
According to a document submitted to the PDP Governors’ Forum by a committee tasked with interfacing with the electoral commission, the committee, chaired by Taraba State Governor, Dr. Agbu Kefas, with Governors Peter Mbah of Enugu, Dauda Lawal of Zamfara, and the PDP National Legal Adviser as members, the findings noted that: “Senator Sam Anyanwu remains recognised as the National Secretary of the PDP, in line with a subsisting Supreme Court judgment.
“There is no declared vacancy in the office of the National Secretary, and Anyanwu can only be removed through constitutional procedures stipulated by the party.
“A minimum 21-day notice must be given to INEC before convening any meeting that would deliberate on the removal or replacement of a party official.
“The process must strictly comply with the PDP Constitution and relevant provisions of the Electoral Act.”
The report, which remains unofficial but was widely circulated among top party leaders during the 99th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja, is expected to shape the party’s approach to addressing the ongoing internal agitation from the South-East zone.
In recent months, leaders of the South-East PDP caucus have demanded the removal of Anyanwu, citing alleged anti-party activities during the 2023 Imo State governorship election, where he ran as the party’s candidate but was accused of working against its broader interest.
The zone has since nominated a replacement and presented its recommendation to the party leadership.
The committee’s resolution, as contained in the report, reads in part:
“The procedure and the processes [should] be followed to complete the acceptance of the recommendation of the South-East caucus in order to rest the agitation and put the party back on track in the South-East. Also, that the party in NEC should acknowledge the request/recommendation of the South-East caucus to be considered at the next meeting, amongst other things.”
The matter of Anyanwu’s position was briefly referenced during Tuesday’s NEC meeting.
In the post-meeting communique read by acting National Chairman Ambassador Iliya Damagum, it was confirmed that the resolution of the South-East General Executive Committee.
