PDP breaks into two factions, as party confirms Anyanwu as National Secretary

Senator Samuel Anyanwu has been confirmed as the National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by the party’s highest decision-making body, the National Executive Committee (NEC).

The confirmation was announced by the acting National Chairman of the party, Umar Damagum, after the NEC meeting held at the party’s headquarters in Abuja. Damagum stated that Anyanwu’s affirmation was one of the key resolutions reached during the meeting.

The development solidifies the grip of Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, on the main opposition party. Before the meeting, security operatives had taken over the national secretariat of the PDP, amid counter notices for the party’s 100th NEC meeting issued by some party leaders.

Two factions of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) had arranged for separate meetings at the PDP secretariat at the same NEC Hall. Security personnel barricaded the roads leading to the entrance of the secretariat and chased away suspected thugs.

The party’s acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum-led faction of the NWC had last week announced that the party would hold an expanded caucus meeting, stating that the 100th NEC meeting had been postponed.
However, the Deputy National Chairman (South), Taofeek Arapaja’s faction insisted at a news conference on Sunday night that the meeting would hold on June 30 as scheduled.
While Damagum’s camp fixed its expanded caucus meeting for 2 p.m., Arapaja’s group scheduled its own NEC meeting for 1 p.m., both at the same venue.

Some Board of Trustees (BoT) members, including Maina Chiroma and Chief Bode George, were denied access to the building. A former National Secretary, Mr. Umar Tsauri, said security operatives claimed they were acting on ‘orders from above’.

Bode George described the development as “madness” and questioned the essence of democracy. He advised those behind the order to focus on pressing national issues, describing PDP as an ‘Iroko tree’ that cannot be destroyed.

According to him: “What then is the essence of democracy?
“You came to our office, surrounded by police because you want to have a meeting? You want to turn us to North Korea? Or turn this country to Russia? We will not allow it. Nigerians will not allow it.
“I have seen both sides. Let them be very careful. Allow everybody to walk according to the law of the land.
“We spoke to some of the policemen who said that actually, it is to maintain law and order because of the conflicting notices that emerged yesterday and also that they got an order from above,” he said.
The BoT member said that the meeting could be held elsewhere, adding: “this is the voice of Jacob but the hand of Esau.
“Whoever is the person that ordered from the above, have we heard it before? I have been on both sides. The military and the civil rule,” he said.
The PDP stalwart advised those behind the order to be guided, saying ”we have more problems, economic, financial, education, infrastructure; they should face that.”