PDP Board of Trustee Meeting Turns Chaotic as Thugs Invade Secretariat

There was chaos at the national secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday when thugs disrupted the Board of Trustees (BoT) meeting. 

The meeting, chaired by BoT Chairman Senator Adolphus Wabara, was attended by Acting National Chairman Ambassador Umar Damagum, BoT Secretary Senator Ahmed Makarfi, Hajia Inna Ciroma, Senator Ben Obi, Chairman of PDP Reconciliation Committee Gen. Olagunsoye Oyinlola, and former Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu.

Lingering PDP Leadership Crisis Escalates

The leadership crisis in the party escalated as supporters of National Secretary Senator Samuel Anyanwu and former National Youth Leader Sunday Ude-Okoye clashed at Wadata House, Abuja.

Ude-Okoye, who also claims to be Secretary, is challenging Anyanwu’s claim to the position in court. Last year, the litigation shifted to the Supreme Court for final adjudication.

The bone of contention was who between Anyanwu and Ude-Okoye should attend the BoT meeting. Thugs stormed the meeting, dragged out Ude-Okoye, and insisted he could not participate because his membership of BoT was disputed. 

When Ude-Okoye insisted on attending, he was physically assaulted by a party stalwart.

Amid the tension, Ude-Okoye’s supporters confronted Anyanwu’s aides, who quickly ran inside the hall and closed the door. Some thugs scaled the fence of the party office in solidarity with their respective leaders. 

The police and other security agents intervened, using tear gas to bring the situation under control.

After the deliberation, the BoT adjourned till next month. Damagum announced that the next National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting would also hold next month.

Proxy Forces Behind Crisis?

Damagum and Wabara attributed the chaos to proxy forces bent on destroying the party. 

The acting chairman said some leaders are mischievously pursuing their ambitions to the detriment of the party..

Damagum alleged that certain influential party leaders were fueling the crises by inviting National Working Committee (NWC) members to secret meetings without informing him.

“There is a crisis within the NWC. It is normal. Unfortunately, most of these crises are propelled by our leaders who are supposed to unite us. If you create a crisis simply to further your ambition, you may get what you want. Those who have political ambition should remember that you can’t ride a dead horse to your destination.” he said

Wabara – the Bot Chair lamented: “This meeting comes at a time when the unity, focus, and direction of our great party are being tested in ways that call for reflection and decisive action. The failure to resolve these internal conflicts undermines the strength and credibility of our party.”

BoT Sets Up Peace Panel

A Reconciliation Committee headed by Taminu Turaki (SAN), a former Minister, was set up by the board to resolve the protracted crisis. 

The committee is to mediate between the conflicting parties and restore peace within the PDP.

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