PDP Crisis: NWC defends Anyanwu, halts execution of appeal court judgment

The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) recorded another twist on Friday as the party declared support for its embattled National Secretary, Senator Sam Anyanwu.

Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the party, Ibrahim Abdullahi, at an emergency press conference ordered by the Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagu, disclosed that the PDP has been served with a stay of execution order on the earlier judgment of the Enugu division of the Court of Appeal pending the determination of the appeal before the Supreme Court.

He said: “In the last few days, issues surrounding the authentic national secretary of our party have been in the front burner of our discussion.

“On Wednesday, January 15, we were served with an order of interim injunction issued by the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Maitama, in a suit instituted by the Imo State PDP Chairman, Austine Nwachukwu, through his counsel, Clement Mue, in a suit marked: CV/64/2025.

“The order restrained the party and its agents from giving effect to the Appeal Court order recognising Ude Okoye as national secretary.”

Abdullahi further said: “We are obliged as a law-abiding party to respect the order of the court and also send a legal representation to defend the party in the suit when the Motion on Notice comes up for hearing on the originating summons.

“We hereby appeal to all PDP members to be restrained and law-abiding in waiting for the final position of the court on this matter.

“With several precedents serving as references, we ought to be guided as a party not to fall prey to the antics of our political traducers in and outside of the PDP by playing to the gallery on matters of law and constitutionality.”

He noted that regardless of the outcome and the feathers that might be ruffled as a result, “let us as a party rededicate ourselves to the sacred duty of constitutionalism and adherence to the rule of law.”

He added: “Our responsibility as the major opposition party in the land must not be lost on the altar of mere leadership tussle, especially where we are so guided by the extant provisions of our own laws.

“We must regulate our conduct to conform with civilised practices to avert throwing away the baby with the bath water.”