The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has witnessed a new dimension in the crisis rocking the party, on Wednesday, as the Disciplinary Committee recommended the expulsion of the embattled National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, from the party.
The committee’s report was submitted on Wednesday morning during the meeting of the party’s NWC presided over by the PDP National Chairman, Amb. Umar Damagum.
Recall that the disciplinary committee had invited Anyanwu to defend allegations of gross misconduct, anti-party activities and other infractions against him, but failed to appear before the committee.
While it was gathered that the recommendations are in line with the provisions of the party’s constitution, 2017 as amended, the NWC is, however, expected to review the recommendation of the disciplinary committee and take appropriate action in line with Article 57, 58, 59 and 60 of the PDP constitution.
Meanwhile, security officials took over the premises of PDP on Wednesday as staff of the party clashed with thugs and some members of the party that are loyal to Sen. Anyanwu.
This is even as Hon. Sunday Udeh-Okoye attended the National Working Committee (NWC) meeting for the first time since the legal battle for the National Secretary position.
There were heavy presence of security officials comprising the Department of State Services (DSS), police and the civil defence at the PDP headquarters in Abuja.
A staff of the party, who witnessed the clash, told our correspondent that it started when those members supporting Anyanwu came into the premises of the party, and tried to lock out some members of the party’s National Working Committee, who were resuming for their usual mid-week meeting.
The staff said that they were overpowered by the staff, private guards and some police officers attached to the secretariat.
The development led to the deployment of more security personnel, to prevent further breakdown of law and order.
This incident is the latest development in the ongoing leadership crisis within the PDP, which has seen Anyanwu laying claim to the position of national secretary, after an Appeal Court in Enugu rejected him.
The party has, however, rejected Anyanwu’s claims, stating that he has no legal basis to occupy the office.
Recall that the Court of Appeal, Enugu Division had on December 20, last year, upheld the High Court judgment that sacked Anyanwu as PDP National Secretary and ordered that Sunday Ude-Okoye should serve out his tenure.
The former National Secretary, however, appealed against the judgment at the Supreme Court and sought stay of execution as well.
This was rejected by the court on Monday, which reserved judgment on the appeal.
