Wike’s camp reacts to Atiku-led coalition, tells PDP’s heavyweights what to do

Wike’s camp reacts to Atiku-led coalition, tells PDP’s heavyweights what to do

The recently reinstated National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Samuel Anyanwu, has urged party members to rally together and focus on rebuilding and strengthening the party, following the resolution of its internal crisis.

In an exclusive interview with ‘The PUNCH’ on Monday, Anyanwu emphasised that the ongoing tensions within the PDP have been resolved and urged all members to unite for the party’s future success.

He also advised those involved in coalition talks for the 2027 elections to reconsider their actions and instead join efforts to fortify the PDP.

His comments come on the heels of last week’s announcement of a coalition led by 2023 presidential candidates, including Atiku Abubakar of the PDP, Labour Party’s Peter Obi, and former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, all of whom are positioning themselves to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 elections.

Despite this, Anyanwu expressed surprise over the coalition and reaffirmed his commitment to the PDP, urging members to remain loyal to the party.

“The PDP remains strong at all levels, despite the internal struggles we have faced before and after the 2023 elections. We are a party that has weathered storms, and now is the time to unite and move forward,” Anyanwu stated.

Tensions within the party had been high, particularly after the controversial replacement of Iyorchia Ayu by Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum.

A significant dispute arose over the National Secretary position when the South-East nominated Sunday Ude-Okoye to replace Anyanwu, who had been a candidate in the 2023 Imo governorship election.

The disagreement led to a court battle, culminating in a December 2024 ruling from the Appeal Court in Enugu, which favored Ude-Okoye as the PDP National Secretary.

However, following months of unrest within the party, the Supreme Court intervened on Friday, overturning the lower court’s decision and reinstating Anyanwu.

The Supreme Court’s ruling was clear in stating that internal matters of political parties should not be handled by the courts, a decision that Anyanwu welcomed as an end to the party’s leadership crisis.

He expressed relief and optimism moving forward, stating, “I hold no grudges against anyone. We have only a few months left, and it’s time to work together to reposition the PDP.”

Addressing the emotional toll the conflict had taken on him, Anyanwu added, “Although I have endured personal stress, now is the time to focus on unity. We need a critical NWC meeting to clear the air, speak the truth, and make necessary apologies.”

Anyanwu further emphasized that the PDP has not been involved in any coalition talks and remains focused on its own growth and future.

“The PDP is not part of any coalition; we have not been invited to any coalition discussions. Our party remains strong at the grassroots level, and those advocating for a coalition should consider joining the PDP instead,” he asserted.