Amidst the widening crisis in the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, the party’s National Disciplinary Committee, chaired by former Minister of Foreign Affairs Tom Ikimi, has summoned former Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, and 10 others.
By Emma Ogbuehi
Amidst the widening crisis in the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, the party’s National Disciplinary Committee, chaired by former Minister of Foreign Affairs Tom Ikimi, has summoned former Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, and 10 others.
In a statement on Thursday, Ikimi announced that those invited are required to appear before the Committee on Wednesday, 12th February 2025, at the Legacy House in Maitama, Abuja.
Since and following the 2023 presidential election, the PDP has been grappling with internal conflict. Some members have accused others of undermining the party’s interests and have called for disciplinary actions against those responsible.
In response, the PDP National Working Committee set up a disciplinary committee on August 21 to allow members to file complaints, hear both sides and make recommendations to the National Executive Committee.
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However, nearly five months after the committee’s creation, the crisis has worsened, with former National Youth Leader Sunday Ude-Okoye and Senator Samuel Anyanwu both claiming the position of National Secretary.
Despite the endorsement of Ude-Okoye by the Board of Trustees, led by former Senate President Adolphus Wabara, and the Governors Forum, chaired by Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, the crisis persists.
The consuming feud has done enormous damage to the image and cohesion in the party with many members leaving its fold.
Ikimi revealed that the PDP Disciplinary Committee has reviewed five petitions that have been submitted so far.
The statement read “The National Disciplinary Committee of the Peoples Democratic party met on Wednesday, 5th February 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.
“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.
“Accordingly, The National Disciplinary Committee 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.”
Ikimi guaranteed that the National Disciplinary Committee is dedicated to maintaining discipline within the Party and reinstating its integrity.
“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”, Ikimi stated.
Anyanwu is a contender to the office of the secretary for the party. But the governors elected on the platform of the party and its Board of Trustees (BoT) in their recent meetings, recognised Udo Okoye as the party’s authentic National Secretary. Anyanwu group alleged to enjoy the sympathy of the federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has rejected the action by the governors and the BoT.
Ortom who was Benue state governor, was among the governors of the PDP that worked against the party during the 2023 general elections. Others were Wike (Rivers), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Seyi Makinde (Oyo). Makinde won a reelection. But Ortom, Ugwuanyi and Ikpeazu lost in their senatorial elections.
