Pius Anyim Not Leaving PDP

Anyim Pius Anyim, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation is not contemplating a defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to any other party, he has revealed.

The former SGF visited the Presidential Villa this afternoon at the invitation of President Muhammadu Buhari, sparking rumours that he may be under pressure to join the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC).

It is not clear yet why Buhari invited him, but the former SGF told THE WHISTLER that “I’m still in the PDP and i am not planning. The President is my friend. Real friendship goes beyond politics.”

Meanwhile, a source close to him also told this newspaper that, “He is an active leader of the PDP in Ebonyi State and I can assure you that he is not planning to defect from the party,” the source, who pleaded anonymity stated.

The source stressed that as the former SGF of the administration that preceded his own, the president could have invited him for advice or suggestions on current matters of state.

“You know there are many issues causing disagreements in the polity and over which the government needs to build consensus through consultations. Don’t also forget that Ebonyi has been having cross-border clashes with neighboring states. All these are issues that could warrant his invitation to the villa,” he explained.

Anyim has kept a decent distance from the presidency since he left office in 2015, and this is the first time he would meet with Buhari at the presidential villa.

Anyim, who worked under Jonathan, was a member of the transition committee that handed over power to the current administration.