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A fresh document has revealed Senator Samuel Anyanwu as the authentic National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The letter, dated May 7, 2025, was sent to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and co-signed by Ambassador Umar Damagum, Acting National Chairman, and Senator Anyanwu, who signed in the capacity of National Secretary. The document confirmed Jude Ezenwafor as the PDP’s candidate for the November 8, 2025 Anambra governorship election.
“We write to inform the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that EZENWAFOR JUDE C. is the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) Gubernatorial Candidate for the November 08, 2025, Anambra State Gubernatorial Election, having emerged winner of the Party’s Gubernatorial Primary in ANAMBRA STATE monitored by the Commission,” the letter stated.
It continued, “Please be also informed that HON. OKEKE FRANCIS CHUKWUDI is Ezenwafor Jude’s Running Mate. We hereby forward the Credentials/ Particulars: Forms EC-9, EC-9B and EC-13B, of both the candidate and running mate.”
INEC acknowledged receipt of the document on May 12, 2025.
However, Anyanwu’s appearance on official party documents contradicts the position of the PDP Governors’ Forum and National Working Committee (NWC), which had earlier declared him ineligible and named Deputy National Secretary Setonji Koshoedo as Acting National Secretary.
This development follows a Supreme Court decision that voided a previous Court of Appeal ruling upholding Anyanwu’s removal. The apex court said the matter was an internal party affair and not for judicial interpretation.
Supporters of the PDP candidate for the 2023 Imo state gubernatorial election viewed the declaration as a reinstatement, but PDP leaders insisted it only confirms the party’s right to decide its leadership.
Recall that in 2023, the PDP NWC directed the South East zone to replace Anyanwu after he emerged as the party’s governorship candidate. The zone nominated Sunday Ude-Okoye, who was ratified by the NWC, Board of Trustees, and the PDP Governors’ Forum.
Despite this, both Anyanwu and Ude-Okoye continued to claim the position.
Speaking on the party’s position, PDP spokesperson Debo Ologunagba had said:
“The NWC at its 576th meeting held on 11 October 2023 directed the South East Zonal Executive Committee to nominate a replacement for Senator Samuel Anyanwu upon his nomination as the governorship candidate of the PDP to contest the November 2023 governorship election in Imo State.”
Meanwhile, the PDP Governors’ Forum, in a communiqué issued during its April 2025 meeting in Ibadan, Oyo State, declared both Anyanwu and Ude-Okoye unfit to act as National Secretary.
“To avert a rape of our constitutional democracy, the Forum resolved to recommend that the Deputy National Secretary acts as National Secretary, pending the nomination and ratification of a substantive Secretary from the South East Zone and NEC respectively at its next meeting,” the communiqué read.
Following that recommendation, Setonji Koshoedo was appointed Acting National Secretary.
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