Staff and management at the Peoples Democratic Party National Secretariat staged a walkout on Monday in protest against Senator Samuel Anyanwu’s attempt to forcibly reclaim the position of National Secretary.
The protest followed the recent decision by the party’s National Working Committee to appoint Setonji Koshoedo as Acting National Secretary.
According to eyewitnesses, Anyanwu arrived at the secretariat with a group described by staff as suspected thugs and proceeded to the National Secretary’s office in a bid to assume control.
One protesting staff member recounted the incident:
“Anyanwu and his people entered the building. It wasn’t just an attempt, they actually went straight into the national secretary’s office with some of his aides.”
Staff members, reportedly unwilling to recognize or work with Anyanwu, quickly mobilised and vacated the premises.
The action left the senator and his entourage stranded and visibly embarrassed, according to sources at the scene.
The protest led to a near-complete shutdown of the secretariat, with workers declaring they would not return to their duties until Anyanwu vacated the office.
The staff’s resistance is not new. In May, they had publicly pledged support for the NWC’s decision to appoint Koshoedo, stating that his selection followed proper internal processes within the party.
“We had all left our offices and walked out in protest. That firm action led to his exit,” another protesting employee recalled.
As of the time of filing this report, the PDP had not released an official statement addressing the incident.
