The National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Senator Samuel Nnaemeka Anyanwu has condemned in strong terms, an orchestrated falsehood currently circulating on the social media that the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party has affirmed Honourable Setonji Koshoedo as Senator Anyanwu’s replacement.
A statement by the Spokesman of the PDP National Secretary, Comrade Dabiokiobo Z Warmate said the report is not only untrue, fake and unrealistic, but misleading, mischievious and deceitful in its entire contents.
Warmate stressed that the intent of this story is to create confusion amongst party members and the public by unscrupulous element bent on destroying the main Opposition Party.
He said the National Working Committee (NWC) recognized that Senator Anyanwu remains the authentic and irrevocable National Secretary of PDP till December, 2025.
“For records, at no time did the Acting National Chairman of PDP, Amb. Iliya Umar Damagun discussed the position of National Secretary, or Senator Samuel Anyanwu as a person during the last meeting he had at the party’s National Secretariat, Wadata Plaza”.
“What he was seriously dealing with was the treacherous defection of the incumbent Governor of Delta state, Sheriff Oborevwori, and the Vice Presidential candidate of PDP in the 2023 Presidential election, Ifeanyi Okowa to the APC, the forthcoming NEC meeting and the 2025 National Convention respectively”. He stressed.
Comrade Warmate said “it is noteworthy to inform the public that at no time did Amb. Damagun led NWC of PDP consciously or unconsciously affirmed the Deputy National Secretary, Hon. Setonji Koshoedo to act as National Secretary in disregard to the Supreme Court judgement.”
“For the sake of clarity, there is no controversy or confusion on who is the authentic National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party”.
“The public should please disregard the misleading and mischievous story and view it as a calculated attempt by mischief makers to further cause division in PDP.”
In support of this; “the Supreme Court, in its recent landmark judgement in Senator Samuel Anyanwu and Emmanuel Aniagu invalidated the judgements of State High Court and Appeal Court in Enugu State respectively which earlier backed the claim of some elements in the party recognizing one Udeh Okoye as National Secretary.
However, the two judgements; having been invalidated by the Apex Court in the land indicates that ab-initio, there was no vacancy in the position of the National Secretary and hence, should not be occupied or claim to be occupied by anyone except, the original holder elected at the convention of the party in December, 2021.
Therefore, any false reports in that regards or anyone laying claim to the position of National Secretary except, the elected National Secretary, Distinguished Senator Samuel Nnaemeka Anyanwu recognized by law, or group of persons supporting the recognition of any individual in violation of the constitution of the party and contrary to the Supreme Court judgement is not only committing contempt, but obviously working for the destabilization of the party.”
As a law abiding organization, PDP is guided by law and therefore, will not toe any line aimed at destroying the legal sanctity of the party.
Warmate urged the public to please be guided accordingly.