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By Myke Agunwa
There seems to be no immediate end to the controversy surrounding the office of the National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic party (PDP) as the embattled National Secretary on Wednesday, rejected the position of the governors.
Recall that PDP governors had in a communique issued at the end of their meeting in Ibadan, Oyo State capital on Tuesday, appointed the party’s Deputy National Secretary, Arch. Setonji Koshoedo to take over the secretariat of the party.
Sen. Anyanwu who was elected at a convention and Sunday Ude-Okoye appointed by South East stakeholders had been laying claim to the seat after the Anyawu won the Imo State governorship primary of the party.
The governors claimed that their decision was informed by a Supreme Court ruling that directed political parties to use their internal conflict resolution mechanism to solve its challenges.
Anywanwu in a statement, described the decision of the governors as unconstitutional, a ‘coup d’état against members of the party.
The statement reads: “It is imperative to reiterate that most distinguished Senator Samuel Nnaemeka Anyanwu, at no point resign his position as the National Secretary and so remains the national secretary of PDP inconsonance with the supreme court judgement and the PDP Constitution.
“The PDP constitution clearly stipulates how a national officer of the party can be elected, appointed, replaced or removed in line with sections 45, 47, 49, 57 and 59.
“Senator Samuel Nnaemeka Anyanwu has neither resigned nor the office of the national secretary vacant to warrant an acting national secretary or a call for a replacement. It is the National Convention that is saddled with the sole authority to appoint or remove national officers’
“Therefore , the PDP Governors Forum’s recommendation, directly and indirectly contradicts and violate all relevant sections of the PDP constitution.
“Right now, the PDP governors forum is acting like they are the National Working Committee (NWC) and have usurped the powers of the NWC, National Executive Committee (NEC) and convention.
“The governors forum lacks the constitution powers to impose on the party its decisions most especially an unpopular one at that. The governors forum should resolve a personal rift with the FCT Minister and not drag the position of the national secretary in to it”.
He urged the governors not to allow their ego and proxy war to exacerbate the already existing tension in the party, which he ascribed to “A product of their misguided actions”
“You cannot have a substitutive national secretary in the person of senator Samuel Anyanwu and appoint the deputy national secretary as an acting national secretary, it’s nonsensical.
“Although based on our party’s constitution, all they have said are nothing more than a suggestion. Senator Samuel Nnaemeka Anyanwu remains the authentic national secretary till December 2025, ” the statement further read.
While condemning the resolution of the PDP governors, he added that governor Bala Muhammad led-PDP Governors Forum should be held responsible if the party fails to meet the expectations of Nigerians
He urged the PDP governors to immediately reverse their “Draconian resolution” insisting that it runs contrary to the supreme court judgement, the PDP constitution.