The crisis rocking the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took a different turn on Wednesday as 11 out of the 21 members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) rejected the reinstatement of embattled national secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu.
The aggrieved NWC members also declared that the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting scheduled for June 30 would go ahead as planned, stressing that it had neither been cancelled nor postponed.
A statement issued by the dissenting NWC members and made available to journalists was signed by Amb. Taofeek Arapaja (Deputy National Chairman, South), (Arc) Setonji Koshoedo (Acting National Secretary), Ahmed Yayari Mohammed (National Treasurer), Sir Okechukwu Obiechina Daniel (National Auditor), and Debo Ologunagba (National Publicity Secretary).
Others who signed the statement included Woyengikuro Daniel, PhD (National Financial Secretary), High Chief Ali Odefa (National Vice Chairman, South East), Emmanuel Ogidi (Caretaker Committee Chairman, South South), Mrs Amina Darasimi D. Bryhm (National Woman Leader), Senator Hayatu Bello Gwarzo (National Vice Chairman, North West, and Ajisafe Kamoru Toyese (National Vice Chairman, South West).
Their position came shortly after the Acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum, announced at a press conference that Anyanwu had been reinstated, describing the decision as a difficult one, but necessary for the unity and progress of the party.
The 11 NWC members, however, faulted the move, warning that it contravened the resolution of the 99th NEC meeting which had deferred all issues relating to the office of the National Secretary to the 100th NEC meeting.
They stated, “The Acting National Chairman in the said press briefing also reportedly announced that Senator Samuel Anyanwu has been asked to resume as National Secretary of the party, contrary to the resolution of the 99th NEC meeting.
“These pronouncements by the Acting National Chairman have no foundation. No organ of the party, including the NWC, individual or group, has the power to cancel, overrule, veto or vary the resolution of the National Executive Committee under the constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017).”
They reaffirmed that NEC is the second highest decision-making organ of the party, next only to the National Convention, and that its resolutions are binding on all organs, officers, chapters, and members.
They added, “The claim by Damagum that Anyanwu has been asked to resume as National Secretary is, therefore, misleading and contrary to NEC’s resolution. For the avoidance of doubt, the 100th NEC meeting scheduled for Monday, 30th June 2025, has not been cancelled or postponed.”
Letter that triggered fresh crisis
Last week, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) rejected the notice submitted by the party regarding its planned 100th NEC meeting scheduled for June 30.
INEC, in a letter dated June 13 and addressed to the party’s acting chairman, stated that the submitted notice failed to comply with its regulations.
INEC cited Part 2(12)3 of the 2022 Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties, which requires that such notices be jointly signed by both the National Chairman and National Secretary of the party.
INEC, in the letter signed by acting Secretary, Haliru Aminu, advised the PDP to ensure proper compliance with its rules moving forward.
“The commission draws your attention that the notice is not in compliance with the requirement of part 2(12)3 of the Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties, 2022 that provides ‘the National Chairman and National Secretary of the Party shall jointly sign the notice of convention, congress, conference or meeting and submit same to the Commission. Be guided,” the letter read.
On Tuesday, some governors of the party and key members of the party’s leadership had a closed-door meeting with the management of INEC led by its chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, where they were told to adhere to the Supreme Court judgement on the position of its national secretary.
Damagum, while addressing journalists at the PDP National Secretariat in Abuja on Wednesday, explained that the decision to reinstate Anyanwu followed the advice from INEC, which reportedly said the party had not followed the proper procedure in notifying it of the NEC meeting.
According to him, “INEC is our regulator and they have told us their position as it affects the issue surrounding the National Secretary. The National Secretary is a signatory of the party, and it is a critical position. We have a very important election ahead—the FCT election—and we are running out of time.
“After due consultations, even though it was a bitter pill, we had to swallow it. The survival of the party is more important than individual feelings. There will now be an expanded caucus meeting on June 30 in place of NEC, and Anyanwu will resume as National Secretary.”
Damagum said INEC had rejected the party’s earlier NEC notice because it was signed by him alone and not in accordance with its guidelines.
Uneasy calm within the party
Following the announcement, tension quietly spread among party staff, some of whom were seen discussing the development in hushed tones. A party staffer told Daily Trust he was unsure how staff members would relate with Anyanwu, given past frictions.
In May, PDP staff had openly declared they would not work with Anyanwu and pledged their loyalty to Deputy National Secretary Koshoedo, who was nominated by PDP governors.
With Anyanwu now reinstated, there are concerns about how staff will work with someone they had previously rejected.
Damagum had admitted during his press conference that he convened an NWC meeting on Wednesday, but many members failed to attend due to short notice.
Sources told Daily Trust that several NWC members boycotted the meeting in protest over Anyanwu’s reinstatement.
Shortly after Damagum’s briefing, some NWC members issued a statement reaffirming support for Publicity Secretary Ologunagba and insisting that the NEC meeting must hold.
They also criticised Damagum for disowning Ologunagba’s earlier announcement regarding the June 30 NEC, insisting that Ologunagba spoke with the full backing of the NWC.
The tussle over who occupies the office of National Secretary began in April 2023 when Anyanwu contested and won the PDP governorship primary in Imo State.
In his absence, the South East caucus of the party nominated Sunday Udeh-Okoye, a former National Youth Leader, as replacement.
After losing the governorship election, Anyanwu attempted to return to his post but was resisted by party leaders in the South East, led by Chief Ali Odefa.
The matter went to court. In December 2024, the Court of Appeal sitting in Enugu affirmed Udeh-Okoye as the substantive National Secretary. Anyanwu appealed to the Supreme Court.
The apex court reversed the lower court’s ruling but also held that the party reserves the right to determine its leadership.
This did not resolve the matter. Supporters of Anyanwu argued the ruling quashed Udeh-Okoye’s claim and restored Anyanwu’s position. Those backing Udeh-Okoye maintained the South East should nominate a replacement.
To manage the impasse, PDP governors nominated Koshoedo to act pending final resolution.
Why Damagum is opposed to NEC – Sources
Sources within the party claimed that Damagum and his allies are against holding the June 30 NEC because the meeting would likely consider the South East caucus’ nomination of Udeh-Okoye.
“It’s clear Damagum prefers working with Anyanwu,” one source said. “The 99th NEC had agreed that the issue would be resolved at the 100th meeting. Avoiding the NEC now is suspicious.”
The source added that there are moves to dissolve the current NWC and install a caretaker committee to oversee a fresh convention.
“In PDP, someone acting as National Chairman for three months has hijacked the party as though elected by convention. This isn’t how to pursue peace,” the source said.
In May, following a stakeholders’ meeting in Enugu, the South East PDP caucus threatened to leave the party if Udeh-Okoye was not recognised as National Secretary.
The leaders warned that refusal to honour their position would trigger mass defections in the region.
Governor Peter Mbah, BOT Chairman Senator Adolphus Wabara, former Governor Achike Udenwa, and Chief Ali Odefa were among those who issued the warning, urging the party to respect the zone’s choice.
Efforts by Daily Trust to get reactions from Wabara and Odefa after the reinstatement of Anyanwu were unsuccessful as of press time.
Party leadership lacks integrity, clarity – Suswam
Meanwhile, former Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam has criticised the current leadership of the party, saying it lacks both integrity and clarity.
Speaking during a programme on Channels TV, Suswam said, “I told you before about leadership, and in leadership there are certain qualities required of a good leader – integrity and clarity. The PDP leadership does not have any of these. There is no integrity in the leadership of the PDP.
“I am happy that Wike mentioned that, because I have consistently said that Damagum is not a leader. What should have happened after the meeting with INEC is that a good leader would have briefed the NWC before addressing the press. Whether that happened, no one knows. But I believe if he had called a meeting and said, ‘Look, we met with INEC and this is what they insisted on,’ the NWC members would not have disagreed.
“I’m sure they were not informed about the outcome of the meeting with INEC. That is not leadership. Damagum has been the problem of the PDP. Since he assumed office as acting national chairman, the party has been on a downward slide.”
Suswam further accused the PDP of breaching its constitution by failing to return the chairmanship to the North Central zone within the stipulated timeframe.
“First and foremost, they violated the provision of the constitution, which clearly states that the position must return to the North Central after a period of acting. But there was a gang-up to retain Damagum. The party is in crisis. The confusion is unprecedented. We were supposed to have a NEC meeting, but the chairman, who is responsible for convening it, is now saying it will be an expanded caucus instead. Meanwhile, about 11 NWC members are insisting there must be a NEC meeting.
“It is very unfortunate that those who have benefited the most from this platform are now the ones deliberately and intentionally undermining it.”
He also described the party’s communication with INEC as a “ridiculous” display of disorganisation.
“What the INEC chairman said clearly shows that the party lacks clarity and purpose. Different letters have been sent to INEC, and different names presented as national secretary. How can someone responsible for such confusion still be leading a major party like the PDP?
“The governors are complicit. Bala Mohammed, the chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, was there when they passed a vote of confidence in Damagum. They are all complicit in what is happening.”
Suswam said the conflicting announcements over the return of Senator Anyanwu as national secretary further exposed deep internal contradictions within the party.
“I believe there is more to it than we’re seeing. Damagum announced Anyanwu’s resumption, and Bala was seated there. Yet some NWC members aligned with these governors went ahead to issue a contradictory statement. There is clearly more happening behind the scenes than we know. Why should we continue in this confusion,” he asked.
He alleged that some individuals were actively working to destroy the PDP, with the tacit support of its governors.
Also reacting to Damagum’s press conference, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, said the acting national chairman has no authority to direct Senator Samuel Anyanwu to resume duties at the PDP national secretariat.
Speaking during the inauguration of the Arterial Road Interchange Bridge in Abuja on Wednesday, Wike said Damagum lacked the legal and moral grounds to issue such an instruction to the party’s national secretary.
“The national secretary is not your appointee. He has been doing his work and will continue to do so. You can’t ask him to resume because of the illegalities you’re perpetrating,” Wike said.
The minister accused Damagum of poor leadership, describing the PDP delegation’s visit to INEC as “shameful.”
“PDP now goes to INEC asking what to do. If, because of your ignorance of the law, you went there, that’s unfortunate. The law doesn’t excuse ignorance,” he said.
Wike urged party leaders to seek proper guidance rather than act based on ego or financial interests.
“Don’t let ego or monthly allocations mislead you. If you want to learn, come to us — we’ll teach you how to handle it,” he added.
‘Supreme Court ruling should guide PDP’ – Analyst
Political analyst, Chudi Chukwuani, told Daily Trust that the party must align its actions with the Supreme Court judgement.
He said, “If the party’s decision is consistent with the Supreme Court ruling, that’s fine. But if it isn’t, then it’s a serious issue.”
He added that the position of National Secretary does not operate in isolation.
“Anyanwu, despite being linked to Wike, is just one vote in the NWC and NEC. He cannot act without their directives or authorisation. His powers are not autonomous,” Chukwuani said.
He stressed that the National Secretary cannot even communicate with INEC without a directive from the party’s leadership.
