Former National Publicity Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Kola Ologbondiyan, has cautioned that if Senator Samuel Anyanwu succeeds in his Supreme Court appeal, it could lead to the complete take over of the by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Ologbondiyan attributed this potential outcome to the influence of Nyesom Wike, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister.
Ologbondiyan made these remarks during an interview with ARISE NEWS on Tuesday, monitored by SPEAR NEWS, where he addressed the ongoing dispute over the PDP National Secretary position. He emphasised that Senator Anyanwu’s appeal to the Supreme Court, seeking to overturn the Court of Appeal’s decision to remove him as the PDP’s National Secretary, could have significant consequences for the party’s future.
Taking question on what would be the fate of the party if 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 said: “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 Court of Appeal in Enugu, upheld a previous High Court ruling that recognized Sunday Udeh-Okoye as the legitimate National Secretary of the PDP and ordered him to take up the position without delay. Unhappy with this decision, Anyanwu filed an appeal with the Supreme Court in January, aiming to reverse the rulings and regain his role as the party’s National Secretary.
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