A fierce internal battle is currently unfolding within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) following a controversial decision by the party’s Board of Trustees (BOT) to unseat the National Secretary, Senator Sam Anyanwu. The BOT’s resolution, passed on Wednesday, has sparked outrage and condemnation from key party members, including the South-east Zonal Legal Adviser, Ukpai Ukairo.
Legal Adviser Condemns BOT’s Resolution as “Porous” and “Illegal”
In a statement, Ukairo denounced the BOT’s decision, calling it “porous, illegal, and lacking foundation in law and morality.” He further stated that the manner in which the BOT conducted its meeting, held at a hotel instead of the official party headquarters, violates the principles of the PDP Constitution.
Ukairo’s criticism is particularly directed at the BOT’s leadership under Senator Adolphus Wabara, who he claims has shown “complete disrespect” to the party’s legal framework. Ukairo emphasized that the action taken by the BOT undermines the party’s National Legal Adviser and other legal offices elected within the party, further stating that the resolution should be discarded as it violates key constitutional provisions.
Youth Coalition Warns Against Undermining Court Order
Members of the PDP Coalition of Youth for Good Governance also weighed in on the ongoing dispute, warning the BOT not to take any actions that could hinder the peaceful resolution of the conflict. They called for respect for the Court of Appeal’s ruling in Enugu, which granted Anyanwu a stay of execution on a previous judgment, urging the BOT to comply with the court’s decision.
Emmanuel Mba, the leader of the youth coalition, reiterated that the tenure of several BOT members had expired under Section 32(4) of the PDP Constitution, which stipulates that members of the BOT serve a term of five years only.
Controversy Surrounds Location of BOT Meeting
The most significant point of contention centers around the fact that the BOT meeting, which produced the controversial resolution, was held at a hotel instead of the official PDP national secretariat. Ukairo contended that this act alone is enough to call into question the legitimacy of the meeting and its decisions. He indicated that the hotel meeting was not an official BOT meeting but rather a gathering of like-minded individuals, thus undermining the validity of the resolution passed.
In response, Ukairo has initiated legal action under the Freedom of Information Act to compel the hotel to disclose the party or individual who paid for the venue, aiming to prove that the meeting was not an official PDP BOT gathering.
Legal Repercussions for BOT’s Actions
Ukairo also criticized the failure of the BOT to provide justification for holding the meeting outside the party’s headquarters. He pointed out that this decision was in direct violation of several sub-sections of Section 58 of the PDP Constitution, which regulates the actions and responsibilities of the BOT. He called for disciplinary action to be initiated against Senator Wabara for his role in the decision.
“The communique issued by the BOT is an accursed document that has no place in the arsenal of any self-respecting institution,” Ukairo declared, stressing the need for accountability within the party.
Crisis of Legitimacy and Power Struggle
The growing rift within the PDP highlights deeper divisions over party leadership and constitutional adherence. With Senator Sam Anyanwu’s position as National Secretary now under threat, the party’s internal conflict is far from resolved. As party members call for accountability and legal action, the future of the PDP’s leadership remains uncertain.
