The Peoples Democratic Party has expressed disappointment over Senator Samuel Anyanwu’s return to office as the party’s national secretary, calling it both unfortunate and embarrassing.
The party emphasized that it has not received any stay of execution from the Supreme Court that would halt the Appeal Court ruling which removed Anyanwu from his position late last year.
PDP National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, made these comments after Anyanwu resumed office on Monday. His return has escalated tensions regarding the ongoing legal battle over the party’s national secretary role, which is also being claimed by former national youth leader, Sunday Ude-Okoye.
The PDP had resumed activities following the holiday break, but Ude-Okoye had already assumed office two weeks earlier, citing the Appeal Court judgment. Ologunagba had supported Ude-Okoye’s position, recognizing him as the party’s national secretary based on the court ruling.
In response to the situation, Anyanwu asserted that he had filed for a stay of execution with the Supreme Court concerning the Appeal Court decision and insisted that he was still the legitimate national secretary of the party. He addressed the media after returning to the office and disagreed with Ologunagba’s comments, suggesting that the party’s spokesperson was not fully informed about the legal proceedings.
However, Ologunagba reiterated that the PDP had not received any formal notification of a stay of execution. He criticized Anyanwu’s actions as an attempt at self-help, stressing the importance of following due legal process. Ologunagba pointed out that without a motion for a stay of execution, there was no legal basis for Anyanwu’s return to office.
Ologunagba also suggested that certain individuals within the party might be influenced by external forces, possibly from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), in an effort to destabilize the PDP ahead of the upcoming elections. He emphasized that the PDP remains committed to the rule of law and will follow the judicial process as it unfolds. The party will abide by the court’s decision once it is made.
Reacting however, PDP national publicity secretary, Debo Ologunagba, said “We have not received any stay of execution. Anyanwu’s resumption is unfortunate; this is not the time for the party to go through this kind of embarrassing situation. We are a country of rule of law and order.
“If you have a stay of execution, it’s a process. You have to serve the parties involved. As I said, the party, PDP, has not received either a notice of motion for a stay or been served a stay of execution. I don’t know where that is coming from, but the party has a process. When the document comes in, I will be made aware through the legal adviser. As we speak, I have no information at this time that the party has been served either a motion for stay or a stay of execution.
“I am not going to predict what the party will or will not do. I know very well that when you have a stay of execution, there’s a process. When you apply for a stay, there is a motion you must have filed and served before the court can listen to that motion and take action.
“As I speak to you, this party has not received a motion on notice for a stay application, nor, to my knowledge, has the party received a stay order granted by a court of competent jurisdiction.”
Ologunagba said it is unfortunate that such a drama is going on, adding however that Anyanwu’s attempt to resort to self help is more condemnable.
“We have information about the activities of thugs from Niger State. We are privy to the communication involved, including the emails that were sent by bank transfer. We have details of that. All of these were done at the behest of Senator Anyanwu. It is unfortunate that a former senator should be a lawbreaker. There is a process; let’s agree on the rule of law. We have no personal issues with him. I don’t think the party has personal issues. He went to court and appealed the case but did not let the process proceed.
“As I’ve said before, we don’t do self-help. It’s a process. We are a law-and-order party. Because we are a law-and-order party, that is why we don’t act impulsively. We see the hand of the third force in this matter. We suspect that, unfortunately, some members of the party are being used by the ruling party to disturb us so that the party will have issues going into the next election because of the fundamental failure of the APC.
“Having said that, we are a party of law and order. We will follow through with the process. We don’t do self-help. We are not in the jungle.
“PDP will continue to do what is in the interest of the party, in accordance with the law and the constitution. Don’t forget, the judgment granted is a declaratory judgment. That cannot be stayed. It’s clear.
“If they have applied for a stay, let the court decide one way or the other. And whatever the court decides, this party will abide by that,” he said.
