The Tom Ikimi-led disciplinary committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has recommended the expulsion of the party’s embattled national secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, from the party.
A letter signed by Ikimi and dated March 10, 2025, which was received by office of the PDP Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, on Wednesday, March 12, revealed that despite being given the opportunity, Anyanwu failed to appear before the committee to defend himself against the petition filed by the PDP Young Generation Caucus.
The petitioner had accused Anyanwu of engaging in anti-party activities contrary to the provisions of Article 58 (1)(f) of the PDP Constitution.
The petitioner also accused Anyanwu of engaging in conduct likely to disrupt the peaceful, lawful and efficient conduct of the business of the party contrary to provisions of Article 58(1)(h) of the PDP Constitution 2017, by inviting security agents and other persons and thugs to interfere in the ordinary business of the party at the Headquarters of the party, on 29th January and 1st February 2025.
Having submitted their recommendations, the National Executive Committee of the party (NEC) Is expected to take the final decision on the matter.
The Committee had in Februaryinvited a former governor of Benue State Samuel Ortom; Senator Samuel Anyanwu, and others.
This followed a meeting of the committee in Abuja where it “considered five (5) petitions received so far”.
It said, “following a detailed review of the petitions noted that the first set of petitions was against some key members of the National Working Committee (NWC)”.
“The Committee came to the conclusion that in order not to jeopardize the ongoing reconciliatory efforts of the Governors’ Forum and the Board of Trustees, took a decision to step down those three (3) of the petitions against the top NWC members,” the chairman of the PDP committee Tom Ikimi said in a statement issued after the meeting.
“The second set of petitions which were set down for enquiry are those against former Governor of Benue State, His Excellency Dr. Samuel Ortom and 10 others and the petition against Distinguished Senator Samuel Anyanwu.
“Accordingly, the National Disciplinary Committee resolved to invite the affected persons to appear before the Committee on Wednesday, 12th February 2025 at the Legacy House, Maitama, Abuja.”
Anyanwu has also been in a tussle with Sunday Ude-Okoye for the position of the National Secretary of the party.
The High Court and Court of Appeal decisions on the dispute favoured Ude-Okoye, with Anyanwu challenging the decision at the Supreme Court.
On Monday, the Supreme Court reserved judgment in the appeal filed by Anyanwu, challenging his sack from office.
Anyanwu, in the appeal, is seeking to set aside the judgment of the Court of Appeal, Enugu, which upheld the Federal High Court judgment that removed him as the Secretary of the party.
In a ten-ground appeal filed through his counsel, Ken Njemanze (SAN), Anyanwu prayed the apex court to allow the appeal and overturn the decision of the lower court.
