Ortom, Anyanwu to face PDP disciplinary committee February 12

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has summoned Samuel Ortom, former governor of Benue State and Samuel Anyanwu, the embattled national secretary, to face its Disciplinary Committee.

The chairman of the disciplinary committee, Tom Ikimi, in a statement, said the Committee invited the two foremost party members over petitions written by party members.

Tom Ikimi vowed to use the Committee’s powers spelt out in Section 57(1) of the Constitution of the party to restore peace within the party.

Ikimi explained that although the Committee received a total of 5(five) petitions, three of the potions were stepped down, following the ongoing reconciliation efforts of the Governor Bala Mohammed led PDP Governors Forum

The Committee took the decision at the meeting held on Wednesday, February 5, 2025 at the Legacy House, Maitama, Abuja in line with its mandate pursuant to Section 57(1) of the Constitution of the Peoples Democratic Party (as amended in 2017) relating to Party discipline.

According to him ” The National Disciplinary Committee considered five (5) petitions received so far; and following a detailed review of the petitions, noted that the first set of petitions were against some key members of the National Working Committee (NWC).

“The Committee came to the conclusion that in order not to jeopardize the ongoing reconciliatory efforts of the Governors’ Forum and the Board of Trustees, took a decision to step down those three (3) of the petitions against the top NWC members

“The second set of petitions which were set down for enquiry are those against former Governor of Benue State, His Excellency Dr. Samuel Ortom and 10 others and the petition against Distinguished Senator Samuel Anyanwu.”

BusinessDay checks showed that although details of the allegations in the petitions were yet to be made public, the petition against Samuel Anyanwu, the embattled National Secretary of the party is in connection with the ongoing battle to remain as the party’s National Secretary, despite resolution by the South East zone of the party which favours Sunday Udeokoye.

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Recall that Anyanwu had stepped down from the position to enable him contest for the party’s Imo state gubernatorial ticket, which he won, but was later defeated at the main election by incumbent Governor, Hope Uzodinma.

Following his defeat, he insisted on continuing in office, in defiance of the resolution by the South East Zone, which had pitched him against other major stakeholders in the zone and at the national level.

BusinessDay gathered that Anyanwu’s action has continued to create fracture in the party, and a resolution for anarchy, based on recent occurrences at the party’s national Secretariat, in Abuja

This is as he has continued to hold on to the office, despite resolutions by both the PDP Governors’ Forum and the party’s Board of Trustees BoT, asking him to vacate the office for Udeokoye.

During the weekend, Anyanwu sent a strong worded petition to the Inspector General of Police IGP, vowing to resist plans by the party to implement the resolution of the party’s Governors’ Forum, to the National Working Committee NWC, to immediately swear in Udeokoye as the substantive National Secretary.

BusinessDay also gathered that many of the party organs have resolved to move their meetings out of the Wadata Plaza national secretariat of the party where Anyanwu continues to hold sway, until the matter is fully resolved, to avoid attacks on their members.

Thugs had invaded the Wadata Plaza, national secretariat venue of a recent BoT meeting, in an attempt to prevent Udeokoye from attending the meeting, until a combined team of security officials from the joint task force team in Abuja were drafted to maintain peace.

The Tom Ikimi led Committee said it resolved to invite the affected persons to appear before the Committee on Wednesday, 12th February, 2025 at the Legacy House, Maitama, Abuja.

Those expected to attend are the Petitioners and their witnesses on the one hand and the affected party members and their witnesses on the other hand. The required notices have been issued out accordingly.

He disclosed that the National Disciplinary Committee is committed to ensuring discipline within the Party and restoring the integrity of the Party.

“The Committee reiterates that the National Disciplinary Committee is a constitutionally established Committee that is available to deal with matters brought before it fairly.

“Therefore, all those with genuine grievances against any member of the Party should take advantage of this Standing Committee and follow due process in bringing up their complaints”