Tension at PDP BoT meeting as loyalists of Anyanwu, Udo-Okoye fight dirty over position

Tensions flared at the 79th Board of Trustees (BoT) meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as thugs loyal to National Secretary Senator Samuel Anyanwu and his challenger, Hon. Sunday Udo-Okoye, engaged in a heated scuffle.

The chaos began when Anyanwu’s supporters, already seated in the PDP National Executive Committee (NEC) Hall, objected to Udo-Okoye’s presence, arguing that he was not a BoT member.

The situation escalated when Emmanuel Okoronkwo, one of Anyanwu’s aides, physically manhandled Udo-Okoye and forced him out of the hall.

Outnumbered, Udo-Okoye called on his supporters, some of whom scaled the Secretariat fence in an attempt to force their way back into the hall. However, armed security operatives prevented further disruptions and temporarily restored order.

Despite the commotion, the meeting continued, with Anyanwu seated at the high table alongside BoT Chairman Senator Adolphus Wabara and Acting National Chairman Umar Damagun.

Udo-Okoye, dressed in blue national attire with a red cap, initially took a seat at the extreme end of the high table and sat through the opening session.

In his address, BoT Chairman Senator Wabara urged members to set aside personal interests for the sake of the party’s unity. Similarly, Acting Chairman Damagun criticized party leaders for fueling internal divisions and called for self-reflection and sacrifices to ensure the PDP’s survival.

As of the time of filing this report, three army pickup trucks had arrived at the venue, positioned meters away from the hall as security remained on high alert. The BoT meeting was ongoing amidst heightened security presence.