Samuel Anyanwu Calls for Unity as Supreme Court Reinstates Him as PDP National Secretary

The recently reinstated National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Samuel Anyanwu, has called for party unity following the Supreme Court’s ruling in his favor. In an exclusive interview with The PUNCH on Monday, Anyanwu urged members to focus on strengthening the party rather than engaging in coalition talks for the 2027 elections.

His appeal comes amid reports of a coalition involving former PDP presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s Peter Obi, and former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, aimed at challenging President Bola Tinubu. Samuel Anyanwu, however, dismissed any involvement of the PDP in such discussions, stressing that the party remains strong and united.

Supreme Court Ruling Ends PDP Leadership Tussle

The PDP has faced internal instability since the 2023 elections, worsened by the leadership tussle over the National Secretary position. Samuel Anyanwu had vacated the position to contest the Imo State governorship election, leading the South-East caucus to nominate former National Youth Leader, Sunday Ude-Okoye, as his replacement.

The dispute reached the courts, with the Appeal Court in Enugu ruling in favor of Ude-Okoye in December 2024. However, the Supreme Court overturned this decision last Friday, reinstating Samuel Anyanwu and emphasizing that leadership matters within political parties are internal affairs.

Following the ruling, the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) affirmed that Ude-Okoye’s appointment had been overridden and that all leadership issues must be resolved within the party. The ruling is expected to bring an end to months of uncertainty within the PDP leadership.

Samuel Anyanwu Preaches Forgiveness and Party Rebuilding

Speaking on his reinstatement, Samuel Anyanwu expressed relief that the leadership crisis had been resolved and called on all PDP members to unite. He acknowledged the emotional toll of the dispute but insisted that the party must now focus on reconciliation and progress.

“From the Supreme Court, which is the highest court, I am the National Secretary of the PDP. I hold no grudges against anyone. We have only a few months left, so all we need to do now is work together and reposition the party,” he stated.

Samuel Anyanwu also called for an urgent meeting of the NWC to discuss the party’s future. “Now is the time for us to unite and reposition the PDP. There is also an urgent need for an important NWC meeting where we can face each other, speak the truth, and apologize where necessary,” he added.

Rejects PDP Participation in Any Coalition

Reacting to reports of an opposition coalition against President Bola Tinubu in 2027, Anyanwu made it clear that the PDP was not involved in any alliance talks. He urged party members to focus on strengthening the PDP rather than looking for external alliances.

“The PDP is not part of any coalition; we have not been invited to any coalition meetings. In fact, we have not had any discussions about a coalition. The PDP remains strong at the local, ward, and state levels,” he emphasized.

According to him, those advocating for a coalition should instead join the PDP, now that its internal crisis has been resolved. “The crisis is over, so people should move into the PDP rather than PDP joining any coalition,” he stated.

NEC and Party Leaders Call for Reconciliation

In response to the Supreme Court ruling, members of the PDP’s National Executive Committee (NEC) and other stakeholders called for reconciliation within the party. Some NEC members, who spoke anonymously, stressed that it was time for unity.

“For me, it was an unnecessary fight in the first place. However, now that the apex court has ruled, all well-meaning leaders of the party, such as the Governors, members of the BoT, and other stakeholders, should rally behind the NWC,” a source said.

PDP Deputy National Youth Leader, Timothy Osadolor, also urged party members to heal and move forward. “The Supreme Court has ruled, so it is time for all of us in the PDP, regardless of our position, to start mending our differences. The way forward is reconciliation, and healing is an essential part of that,” he stated.

Osadolor further emphasized that no party member should see the ruling as a victory or defeat but as an opportunity for unity. “Now that the situation is clear, no one should fight it. We can heal and recover. It should not be seen as a case of victor and vanquished. We are all one family, so let’s embrace the future and move on,” he concluded.

With the Supreme Court’s decision settling the leadership dispute, the PDP now faces the challenge of regaining its strength and positioning itself as a formidable opposition party ahead of the 2027 elections.