PDP Did Not Declare Office of National Secretary Vacant, Party Clarifies 

Chuks Okocha in Abuja  

Contrary to speculations, the office of the National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was never declared vacant by the National Working Committee (NWC), the party has clarified.

 The party stated that its NWC did not at any time request that the National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, who is also the candidate of the party in the November 11, 2023 governorship election in Imo State should resign.

The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Debo Ologunagba in a statement said the NWC had since considered all issues and noted that the party’s candidate, Senator Anyanwu, in retaining his position as the National Secretary of the party, had not violated the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act, 2022 as well as INEC and PDP Guidelines. 

He clarified further that at no time did the NWC meet to ask that Senator Anyanwu should be replaced as National Secretary as there is no provision in the current PDP guidelines that requires an elected party official to resign before contesting election at any level. 

The party spokesman also explained that the resignation requirement in the Electoral Act is not applicable to those holding elected offices.

He stated further that that is why elected persons, such as presidents, state governors, National and State Assembly members contest elections while retaining their elected offices, adding that such is also applicable to elected party officials. 

 “There is no portion in the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act and the current PDP Guideline that provides that an elected party official should resign before contesting election at any level. That is why no party official had been barred from contesting elections while holding party elective positions.

  “So, the NWC never met to ask that Senator Anyanwu should resign or be replaced as National Secretary. The NWC has no contemplation in that regard and there are no issues whatsoever to warrant such, especially as the secretariat is running smoothly and effectively.

 “Moreover, the NWC is more focused on the party’s victory in the November 11, 2023 governorship elections in Imo, Bayelsa and Kogi states and this is what should be of interest to any genuine Party member.

 “What is paramount to the Imo PDP is to win the November 11, 2023 governorship election and make Imo State safe and prosperous again on the platform of the PDP. 

“The PDP is standing very strong in Imo State, we have a very popular candidate in Senator Samuel Anyanwu who is also the National Secretary of the PDP. His mission to ‘Make Imo Safe Again’ is resonating across the state and an overwhelming majority of the people of Imo State are rallying with him to achieve this,” he said.

 He urged the people of Imo State to remain united, focused and not to allow any form of distraction at this critical time.