From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
The office of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) National Secretary, occupied by Senator Sam Anyanwu, has not been declared vacant, competent party sources has said.
A member of the PDP National Working Committee ( NWC), who pleaded anonymity, said contrary to speculation, the party organ did not at any time requested that Anyanwu, who is also the opposition party’s governorship candidate in Imo State should resign.
According to the PDP official, the NWC had since considered all issues and noted that Anyanwu retaining his position as the National Secretary, while contesting the Imo governorship election, has not violated the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act, 2022 as well as Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) and PDP Guidelines.
He 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 election while holding Party elective position.
“What is paramount to the Imo PDP is to win the November 11, 2023 Governorship elections 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 Sen. 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.
Similarly, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, dismissed the statement by a group that Anyanwu has been removed as National Secretary, as mischievous.
Ologunagba maintained that the NWC never at any time relieved or contemplate to relieve Anyanwu of his position in the party, stating that he remains National Secretary, as well as the opposition party’s candidate in the November 11 Imo governorship poll.
“The NWC therefore strongly condemns the action of this group which is obviously the handiwork of those who intend to embarrass, cause disaffection and division in our Party in their attempt to distract the PDP, our Candidate, Senator Anyanwu and the people of Imo State in the quest to rescue the State from the stranglehold of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“The NWC states and cautions that no matter how strongly an individual or group feels about an issue, resorting to fabrications, lies and claiming of a non-existent decision by the NWC is highly condemnable, ” Ologunagba stated.
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