PDP Governors Call Emergency Meeting Amidst Leadership Crisis

PDP Governors Convoke Urgent Asaba Meeting to Address Escalating Leadership Crisis and Party Division Amid Violent Clashes and Legal Disputes

ASABA, Delta State – The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is facing a deepening leadership crisis, prompting its elected governors to call an emergency meeting in Asaba on Friday. This comes after a chaotic Board of Trustees (BoT) meeting in Abuja on Wednesday, where supporters of Senator Samuel Anyanwu, the embattled National Secretary, allegedly attacked former Youth Leader Sunday Ude-Okoye.

The Asaba meeting, convened by the PDP Governors Forum, aims to address the escalating challenges plaguing the party. These challenges include the ongoing battle for the National Secretary position, stalled zonal congresses, and calls for a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting.

PDP Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum acknowledged the crisis and accused some party leaders of fueling the turmoil. He emphasized the need for unity and cautioned against actions that could disrupt the zonal congresses. Damagum also assured party members that the NEC meeting, requested by the Governors Forum and other organs, would hold in February.

The BoT meeting in Abuja was disrupted by a physical altercation involving Ude-Okoye and Anyanwu’s supporters. The incident highlighted the deep divisions within the party, with both Ude-Okoye and Anyanwu claiming the National Secretary position, citing conflicting court orders. BoT Chairman Adolphus Wabara expressed disappointment over the internal conflicts and stressed the urgency of the NEC meeting to resolve these issues.

The crisis has also drawn reactions from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The APC described the PDP’s internal struggles as “entertaining drama” and suggested the PDP learn from the APC’s “progressive institute.” Several key PDP figures, including 2023 presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, were absent from the BoT meeting.