The embattled National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Samuel Anyanwu, has publicly declared his unwavering loyalty to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, amid the ongoing leadership crisis rocking the opposition party.

Speaking to journalists in Abuja, Anyanwu firmly stated that no amount of intimidation would make him turn against Wike, whom he described as both his friend and boss.

"His Excellency, the FCT Minister, is my friend and my boss, and I can never, under any intimidation, deny him. Nobody can make me deny my friend because after position, there's still life," Anyanwu declared.

The National Secretary questioned the motives behind efforts by Governors Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and Peter Mbah of Enugu State to remove him from office, expressing confusion over their actions.

"My question is, what has Governor Makinde accused me of? Have I stressed him for any reason? Have I called him funny names? What is my sin? What is my problem with him? I consider him my friend," Anyanwu queried.

Legal Battle Over PDP Secretaryship

The leadership tussle became public in December 2024 when the PDP Southeast Caucus endorsed Sunday Ude-Okoye as Anyanwu's replacement after the latter contested and lost the Imo State governorship election.

While the Appeal Court had affirmed Ude-Okoye as the legitimate National Secretary—a decision accepted by PDP governors, the Board of Trustees, and the National Working Committee—Anyanwu, with Wike's backing, challenged the ruling at the Supreme Court.

On March 21, the Supreme Court overturned Anyanwu's removal, ruling that internal party matters fall outside the judiciary's jurisdiction.

Anyanwu, whose tenure ends in December, questioned the urgency behind attempts to remove him with just four months remaining in his term.

"When people have a motive, a vision whether you want to be president or governor, what would my position do? My tenure ends in December. The election is in 2027. Primaries are in 2026. I will not be there. So what would my position do now?" he asked.

The National Secretary called for unity within the party's leadership, urging his colleagues to maintain harmony as they approach the end of their tenure.

"We came here as a united family. It would be nice to leave as a united family so that we can still meet tomorrow and say we are brothers," Anyanwu stated, adding, "Let nobody try to fragment the National Working Committee. We have been here for over three years. We just have four months to go. Let us finish and go in peace."

Addressing accusations of being pro-Wike, Anyanwu defended his association with the FCT Minister, saying, "Everybody knows his role in this party. Everybody knows that when it mattered most, he was there for the party."