The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, has disclosed how the former South East Zonal Vice Chairman, Ali Odefa, plotted his removal from office.
Despite the plot for his removal, Anyanwu said he was elected at a national convention and can only be removed at a national convention.
He disclosed this at an ongoing meeting of members of the National Working Committee, NWC, of South East extraction with stakeholders of the party from the zone.
According to him, “In 2023, I wanted to contest for the governorship of my state and I wrote to the party that I would be away for three months.
“And I asked my deputy to hold forth until my return. Unknown to me, the former South East Zonal Vice Chairman, Ali Odefa, was plotting to remove me from office.
“He deceived the only governor we have in the South East, Peter Mbah, to say I had to be removed.”
The position of the PDP’s National Secretary has been a contentious issue since Anyanwu left to contest the Imo governorship position, which he lost.
In his absence, the Southeast Caucus of the party endorsed Sunday Ude-Okoye to replace him.
After losing the position, efforts to reclaim his seat as the secretary have thrown the party into further crisis.
An Appeal Court sitting in Enugu had on December 20, 2024, upheld an earlier decision of a High Court removing Anyanwu as the PDP National Secretary while affirming Sunday Ude-Okoye as the authentic Secretary.
Anyanwu has, however, filed for a Stay of Execution and Appeal, with Dr. Musa (SAN) nominated as the party’s legal counsel by Damagum, the crux of the new impasse.
