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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has asked its governorship candidate in the just concluded election in Imo State, Sam Anyanwu, to step aside and directed Setonji Koshoedo to take over as acting National Secretary.
Until his appointment, Koshoedo was the Deputy National Secretary.
Acting National Chairman of the party, Umar Damagum, who announced the decision after the NWC meeting on Tuesday, explained that Koshoedo’s appointment is pending the determination of a suit instituted against
Anyanwu lost to the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Governor Hope Uzodimma in the November 11 governorship election.
Recall that after its South East Zonal Executive Committee meeting in Enugu on October 20, PDP National Vice Chairman, Ali Odefa, declared that the zone had unanimously nominated the former National Youth Leader, Sunday Udeh Okoye as the new National Secretary
Consequently, an Enugu State High Court in on October 23, restrained Anyanwu from parading himself as the party’s National Secretary and ordered Damagum to recognise Okoye. The Order was reaffirmed on November 7, 2023.
Explaining the decision of the NWC, Damagum said: “Since there are conflicting court orders, we urged the two sides to stand down and we have agreed and appointed the Deputy National Secretary to continue to act as Secretary pending the time we will resolve all the issues; the conflicting court orders and resolutions of the South East,” Damagum stated.
The acting National Chairman, who said the party will adopt its internal conflict resolution mechanism to resolve the issues, adding: “The PDP Governors are also intervening in this matter and this action taken by the NWC will give them time to resolve the issue.”
For the off-cycle elections, Damagum, who noted that the Kogi and Imo State governorship elections fell below their expectations, said the electoral body had derailed in its responsibility.
”Election have been conducted, but most of you that monitor it can attest to the fact that the off-cycle elections are worse than the previous elections. This is not what we bargain for,” he said.
Damagum also expressed fear that in the future there may be no election, “but written and announcement of results.”
“We have seen all sorts of violence, intimidation, and high handedness. This has further confirmed that the electoral body has completely derailed from the road it was supposed to take. People have lost confidence; voters were completely disenfranchised due to the complicity of some of the agencies that were to help to have a very fair election but they completely compromised. This election is worse than even the one we had earlier,” he said.
The acting National Chairman assured that they will do everything possible to ensure the party remains indivisible.
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