The Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has barred Senator Samuel Anyanwu and Hon. Sunday Ude-Okoye from attending its meetings until the contentious dispute over the party’s national secretary position is resolved.
The decision follows a heated altercation during the BoT’s last meeting at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.
Sources revealed that the BoT expressed disappointment over the fracas, which escalated when one of Anyanwu’s aides attempted to physically prevent Ude-Okoye from participating in the meeting, despite the latter’s invitation.
In its resolution, the BoT mandated a committee led by former Minister of Special Duties, Barr. Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN), to mediate between the parties, investigate the situation, and provide recommendations for resolving the crisis.
Party insiders say this move is aimed at preventing further disruption and maintaining the BoT’s integrity.
A source at the meeting confirmed the directive,
He stated , “The elders of the party have asked both contenders to stay away from BoT meetings to avoid a repeat of the unfortunate incident. We believe the committee will provide a fair resolution, and all parties will respect the BoT’s final decision.”
Contrary to speculations that Ude-Okoye gatecrashed the meeting, another source clarified that his attendance was legitimate.
“There was no way he could have attended without an invitation. Leaders from his zone had endorsed him and reaffirmed his position as national secretary barely a week before the meeting,” the source explained.
The controversy stems from Senator Anyanwu’s decision to vacate the national secretary position to contest the Imo governorship election, which he subsequently lost. The South East caucus of the PDP nominated Ude-Okoye as his replacement, a decision that sparked legal battles.
Anyanwu initially contested Ude-Okoye’s nomination, but the Appeal Court ruled in Ude-Okoye’s favour. The matter is now pending before the Supreme Court.
