Factional National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, has dismissed the Ibadan gathering that purported to dissolve the National Working Committee, declaring that no lawful convention took place and insisting that party procedures were not followed.
Speaking in an exclusive encounter with ARISE News in Abuja, Anyanwu maintained that the processes required for a valid party convention were completely absent. He stated emphatically: “There is no convention in Ibadan. No. No convention.”
Anyanwu argued that the party constitution is explicit about the role of the national secretary in convening any valid convention. He said: “As the national secretary of the party in our constitution, it was very clear that for every convention, the national secretary will state the affairs of the party in the convention. Two, every communication from the convention on the committee is communicated to the members of the party by my office. Three, there should be a one day communication… that I am going to hold a convention.”
He also revealed that he had already issued formal notice for a legitimate NEC meeting scheduled by the party leadership. According to him: “On the 14th of November, I wrote to the board of the Secretariat and said, you know, I am notifying them that we are going to have this NEC meeting.”
Responding to questions about his own suspension and that of other party leaders, Anyanwu insisted that those claiming to suspend him lack the authority, while describing the actions of the party’s acting chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum, as illegitimate. He declared: “Unfortunately, Damangu is also suspended. He was suspended, and you know he is actually suspended. And of course, from now, he is no longer a chairman, because he subjected himself to that Christmas carol in Ibadan.”
Anyanwu further rejected suggestions that he should vacate office before the end of his tenure, stressing that his mandate remains intact. He insisted: “We are elected for four years, and we are going to see to the end of our tenure.”
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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