One of the two contenders for the position of National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Samuel Anyanwu, has dismissed the directive from the Board of Trustees (BoT) to swear in his rival, Sunday Ude-Okoye.

Anyanwu criticized the directive, citing the ongoing court case and the expiration of the tenures of about 80% of the BoT members who attended the meeting at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja.

He described the directive as “just advice” that cannot be taken seriously.

“Their advice is just that—advice, and it cannot be taken seriously,” he said.

Anyanwu pointed out that he was not invited to the meeting, nor was the National Chairman, who is also a member of the BoT.

“I’m a member of the BoT, I was not invited to the meeting, and neither was the National Chairman. This shows a lot,” Anyanwu stated. He also emphasized that the tenure of about 80% of those at the meeting expired in October last year, and that the matter is still in court.

The BoT had on Wednesday directed the National Working Committee (NWC) to swear in Ude-Okoye as the substantive National Secretary, in line with the judgment of the Enugu High Court, which was upheld by the Court of Appeal.

This followed an emergency meeting of the party leaders.