Prominent leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), led by Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT) met in Abuja on Monday and reaffirmed their recognition of Samuel Anyanwu as the national secretary of the party.
The meeting, which was held at the residence of Wike lasted over five hours.
The leaders also expressed support for the Bukola Saraki-led national reconciliation committee, warning that the party risks collapse if urgent reforms are not made.
Among those present were Wike; Okezie Ikpeazu, former governor of Abia; Samuel Ortom, former governor of Benue; Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, former governor of Enugu; Gilbert Nnaji, a former senator; Chibudom Nwuche, former deputy speaker of the house of representatives; and Anyanwu.
In a communiqué issued after the meeting, the group said the party’s lingering crisis is due to the refusal of some actors to comply with its constitution.
“The seemingly intractable crisis in the party is as a result of inexplicable refusal of a few to adhere to the party constitution, with particular reference to Section 36(1)(a)(b) and (c), Sections 47(3)(5) and 48(1)(i), and the definitive Supreme Court judgment regarding the position of the office of the national secretary of the party,” the statement read.
They said the PDP is on a “path to self-annihilation” if desperate and divisive tendencies are not curtailed.
“These divisive tendencies, unfortunately, have found expression in the conduct of certain interests within the ranks of our party both at NEC, NWC and board of trustees levels,” the group said.
The stakeholders made a series of resolutions, beginning with the reaffirmation of Anyanwu’s position.
“To finally arrest the inexorable drift towards extinction in our party, the party must, without further delay, respect the judgment of the Supreme Court.
“We therefore unequivocally reaffirm Senator Sam Anyanwu as the duly elected and substantive national secretary of our great party,” the group said.
They also demanded that the party zone its 2027 presidential ticket to the south.
“In the spirit of fairness, inclusion, federal character principles and respect for our party constitution, the party must make an unequivocal pronouncement zoning its presidential candidate to the south in the 2027 elections after the unbroken years of northern presidency under President Muhammadu Buhari,” the communiqué read.
The group further stated that only Anyanwu, as national secretary, is authorised to issue notices of meetings to party organs or communicate with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
They insisted that Anyanwu can only be removed by a properly constituted national convention, and demanded that the acting national chairman and Anyanwu jointly issue a notice to INEC for a NEC meeting with an attached agenda.
“We the stakeholders reiterate our commitment to our great party and urge all members to uphold the rule of law, respect constitutional mandate, resist all machinations aimed at destabilising the party and support the efforts of the national reconciliation committee headed by His Excellency, Senator Bukola Saraki,” the communiqué concluded.
