Anyanwu Dismisses Expulsion, Says Ibadan PDP Convention Lacked Legitimacy

 

Suspended National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Samuel Anyanwu, has rejected his expulsion from the party, insisting he remains the lawful occupant of the office.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, Anyanwu dismissed the PDP national convention held in Ibadan as “a mere jamboree,” arguing that the exercise failed to meet constitutional requirements and could not produce valid national officers.

Anyanwu faulted the emergence of former Minister of Special Duties, Kabiru Turaki (SAN), as PDP National Chairman, saying his own four-year tenure had neither expired nor been lawfully terminated.

“I was elected to serve four years, and that mandate has not lapsed. I remain the National Secretary of the PDP,” he said.

At the Ibadan convention, Turaki polled 1,516 votes to defeat Senator Yakubu Danmarke, who secured 275 votes, in an exercise announced by Senator Ben Obi. A total of 1,834 votes were cast, with 43 voided.

But Anyanwu argued that the entire process was unconstitutional, noting that no official communication was sent to INEC as required by the party’s rules.

“As National Secretary, I should be the one to notify INEC 21 days before a convention. Was any letter sent? The answer is no,” he insisted.

He added that many states—including the entire South-East—had no valid congresses, caucuses or functional executives, making the convention structurally defective.

“There are no excos in several states. Even where they exist, INEC has not been notified. That gathering in Ibadan was nothing short of a jamboree,” he said.

The embattled secretary accused unnamed party leaders of procuring court orders to validate the convention, insisting the judgment protecting his tenure was authentic and still subsisting.

“When I heard someone on the podium preaching constitutionalism while engaging in illegality, I laughed,” he said.

Anyanwu also blamed the party’s deepening crisis on acting National Chairman Umar Damagum, whom he described as the “central problem” in the PDP’s leadership structure.

“Damagum is my friend, but his incompetence is known to members of the National Working Committee. That is where the problem lies,” he alleged.

He dismissed claims that he is being sponsored by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, saying although Wike is his friend, the real sabotage of the party originates elsewhere.

“If there is anyone who wants this party to survive, it is Wike. I worked for the party and have no reason to destroy it,” he stated.

Anyanwu also accused Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde of fueling divisions in the NWC and pursuing personal political ambitions, including an alleged 2027 presidential bid, at the expense of party cohesion.

Responding to his expulsion, he insisted no legitimate organ of the party had the authority to remove him.

“Who expelled me? With what power? There is a valid court order restraining the party from suspending or expelling me. The matter is still before the court,” he said while displaying a copy of the judgment.

The Damagum-led faction had at the Ibadan convention expelled several chieftains, including FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, former Ekiti Governor Ayodele Fayose, and Anyanwu himself, for alleged anti-party activities. The faction also dissolved party structures in Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Enugu, Imo and Abia states.