Eleven members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have reportedly explained why they refused to accept Senator Samuel Anyanwu as the party’s National Secretary.
During the party’s 100th National Executive Committee (NEC) on Monday, Anyanwu was acknowledged as PDP National Secretary after a prolonged battle that virtually divide the party down the line.
Daily Trust gathered from sources privy to the closed-door meeting that the 11 NWC members who initially opposed Anyanwu’s reinstatement said they felt sidelined by the decision of the acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum, in decision-making.
One source noted that it was agreed that Damagum was wrong to have engaged only those he considered allies within the NWC and then proceeded to present those internal discussions as a consensus.
The source, a member of NEC, also revealed that tension in the Southeast zone had been a concern, particularly with threats of defection. However, members from the zone were reportedly pacified during pre-NEC consultations.
The source said: ‘Even the Enugu State governor was aware that INEC (the Independent National Electoral Commission) had only recognised Anyanwu. But the concern was that Anyanwu appeared to be deferring to Minister Nyesom Wike, rather than acknowledging the governor as the party’s leader in the zone’.
According to the NEC member, most leaders had agreed that following INEC’s position, Anyanwu should be reinstated. However, it was Damagum’s handling of the process that angered many within the NWC.
The source further said: ‘You know the governors and some party leaders met earlier and resolved many of the key issues. But at the NEC, three specific matters were raised and addressed.
‘First, it was agreed that no secretariat staff should be victimised by Anyanwu once he resumes. Recall that staff had previously protested, saying they no longer wished to work with him.
‘Second, Anyanwu was warned not to circumvent procedures leading up to the convention. All members agreed that a definite date for the convention will be announced at the 23 July NEC meeting. Party leaders are currently considering October or November for the event’.
The source added that a third issue involved the Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT), Senator Adolphus Wabara, who reportedly suggested that Anyanwu signed an undertaking not to use his office to punish those who opposed him during the crisis. However, Wabara was persuaded to drop the idea in the interest of reconciliation.
Before the crisis was resolved, tensions reached a peak on Monday morning as heavily armed security operatives took over the party’s national secretariat in the Wuse Zone 5 area of Abuja.
The operatives, primarily drawn from the Nigeria Police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, arrived as early as 8:30 am and barricaded the road leading to the party premises to maintain order amid fears of a clash between rival factions of the NWC.
The security lockdown followed growing tensions after the NWC became sharply divided over Anyanwu’s leadership status, and competing directives regarding the NEC meeting. Both camps had reportedly mobilised for separate caucus meetings at the secretariat.
Scores of armed security officers in about 10 trucks took up strategic positions around Wadata Plaza, where both factions had scheduled parallel activities.
Access to the party headquarters was restricted. Staff, journalists, and party members were denied entry. Dozens of youths, suspected to be political thugs, who had earlier gathered around the premises, were chased away by the security operatives who took full control of the area.
Members of the PDP BoT, who had also scheduled a meeting at the secretariat, were prevented from entering the building. A few leaders who gained access to the premises based on self-recognition were barred from entering the NEC hall where the meeting was to take place.
Daily Trust gathered that the security personnel were under strict instructions to prevent any meeting from holding within the party premises.
At one point, senior officers were overheard instructing their colleagues to enforce the order thoroughly. One was heard saying: ‘Make sure nobody is in the hall there. That is the instruction. I heard there is another hall upstairs. Make sure nobody is meeting there’.
Following the blockade, PDP leaders relocated the meeting to the Shehu Musa Yar’adua Centre in the Central Business District of Abuja.
Among those seen leaving Wadata Plaza for the new venue were former Deputy National Chairman, Chief Bode George; former Ebonyi State Governor, Senator Sam Egwu; and former National Secretary, Senator Ibrahim Tsauri.
