Former National Publicity Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Kola Ologbondiyan, has warned that if Senator Samuel Anyanwu wins his appeal at the Supreme Court, it could mark the final takeover of the party by the All Progressives Congress (APC), specifically through the influence of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike.
Ologbondiyan said this in an interview with ARISE NEWS on Tuesday, while discussing the National Secretary tussle within the PDP, with Senator Anyanwu’s appeal to the Supreme Court to stay the judgement of the Court of Appeal sacking him as the PDP’s National Secretary could make or mar the party.
When asked what will happen in a scenario that Anyanwu wins the case in Supreme Court, Ologbondiyan said, “I pray and I hope that doesn’t happen, because it will affect the foundation of the People’s Democratic Party, if that does happen. I mean the foundation of the structure of the PDP, it will be affected.”
He went on to say, “It will naturally mean the final, and I mean in every sense of finality, of the acquisition of the People’s Democratic Party for All Progressives Congress (APC) by the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike. That will be the end of the matter. I’m sorry to say this.”
“Parties are made of people. And if the majority of the members are on a side, and the judgment turns around and gives judgement on the side of the minority, you can imagine what will happen,” he added.
The Supreme Court ruling, if it goes in favour of Anyanwu, will either make or mar the PDP, Ologbondiyan said.
Reiterating that it is the right of political parties to determine their leadership, Ologbondiyan pointed to the official communication with INEC as proof of the party’s stance, as he said, “The party has already decided who its national secretary is. I don’t know if you are aware, the party has written to INEC identifying Right Honourable S.K Udeh Okoye as its national secretary. And the fact that there has never been a stay of resolution on the matter shows that it is the responsibility of Honourable S.K to continue to function as the national secretary.
“But when you come in and say that, oh, if the Supreme Court decides on the side of the Senator Sam Anyanwu, what will the party do? I don’t want to jump before the decision of the Supreme Court. We’ll wait and see what the court justices will say.
“But I think that it is the responsibility of every political party to choose who their leaders are. And in this situation, I think that going by the letter that was written to INEC and duly signed by Damagum and Udeh Okoye, asking INEC to recognise the signature of S.K Udeh Okoye, it shows clearly the direction where the party is.”
The Supreme Court reserved judgment in the appeal filed by Anyanwu challenging his removal as A five-member panel, led by Justice Uwani Musa Aba-Aji, reached the decision after hearing arguments from both sides, following the Court of Appeal’s ruling in December that upheld his sacking.
The appellate court, sitting in Enugu, had affirmed a high court decision that recognised Sunday Udeh-Okoye as the substantive PDP National Secretary and directed him to assume office immediately. Dissatisfied with the verdict, Anyanwu approached the Supreme Court in January, seeking to overturn the rulings and reclaim his position as the party’s National Secretary.
