The National Disciplinary Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has summoned former Governor of Benue State, Dr. Samuel Ortom, and the embattled National Secretary of the party, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, as part of ongoing efforts to address the lingering crisis within the party.
The summons comes in the wake of persistent internal conflicts that have plagued the PDP since the 2023 presidential election. The party’s leadership has been grappling with factional disputes, most notably the battle over the position of National Secretary between Hon. Sunday Udeh-Okoye and Senator Anyanwu. While PDP governors and the Board of Trustees (BoT) have thrown their weight behind Udeh-Okoye, Anyanwu has insisted that the Supreme Court will determine the rightful occupant of the office.
In an effort to restore order and discipline, the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) set up a disciplinary committee on August 21, 2024, led by Tom Ikimi, to investigate complaints and recommend appropriate actions. Despite this intervention, the crisis has persisted, further deepening divisions within the party.
Announcing the summons, Ikimi stated that the committee had received five petitions, some of which were against key members of the NWC. However, in a bid to support ongoing reconciliatory efforts led by the Governors’ Forum and the BoT, three petitions against top NWC members were stepped down.
“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 ten others, as well as the petition against Distinguished Senator Samuel Anyanwu,” Ikimi said in a statement.
The affected individuals, along with the petitioners and their witnesses, have been directed to appear before the committee on Wednesday, February 12, 2025, at Legacy House, Maitama, Abuja.
Reiterating its commitment to fairness and due process, the committee urged aggrieved party members to channel their complaints through the appropriate party structures.
“The National Disciplinary Committee is committed to ensuring discipline within the party and restoring the integrity of the PDP. The committee remains available to address grievances fairly and impartially,” Ikimi emphasized.
With the crisis showing no signs of abating, the outcome of the disciplinary proceedings could play a crucial role in determining the future direction of the opposition party.
