Embattled National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Sam Anyanwu, has accused party governors and the Board of Trustees (BoT) of orchestrating efforts to remove him due to his close ties with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.

In an exclusive interview with Saturday Tribune, Anyanwu alleged that calls for the inauguration of Sunday Udeh-Okoye as the substantive National Secretary following his affirmation by the Court of Appeal are part of a “proxy war” waged by governors and the BoT against him.

The PDP has been grappling with internal divisions, with factions split between those loyal to Wike and those resisting his influence within the party. Anyanwu, seen as a key ally of the former Rivers State governor, insists that his detractors are targeting him solely because of his relationship with Wike.

“The truth of the matter is that these people are fighting a proxy war. They know my relationship with Wike. That’s all. I don’t have any issue with any of them,” he stated.

Anyanwu dismissed the legitimacy of the governors’ and BoT’s actions, arguing that neither body holds constitutional authority over PDP leadership. “The governors’ forum is a voluntary organization. Any governor can decide to be a member. It’s not a compulsory thing. It’s a social gathering,” he explained.

He further claimed that some governors are deliberately creating crises within the PDP as a prelude to defecting and forming new political parties. “There is no issue in the party. They are just creating tension, causing unnecessary problems for them to go to the respective parties they want to form,” he alleged.

Tensions escalated after the PDP Governors Forum, in a meeting in Asaba, Delta State, endorsed Udeh-Okoye as National Secretary. The endorsement followed a Court of Appeal ruling in Enugu that affirmed Udeh-Okoye’s legitimacy. The BoT also upheld the court’s ruling, adopting a report by a committee led by Barr. Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN).

Udeh-Okoye’s emergence stemmed from Anyanwu’s temporary resignation to contest the 2024 Imo State governorship election. However, following his defeat, Anyanwu sought to reclaim the position, despite the South-East Zone’s nomination of Udeh-Okoye in accordance with party protocols.

As the power struggle continues, Anyanwu revealed that the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) has yet to meet to discuss the proposed National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting recommended by the governors.