The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) reinstated Senator Samuel Anyanwu as National Secretary and cancelled its planned National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting originally scheduled for June 30, after holding talks with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
At a press conference held Wednesday at the PDP national secretariat in Abuja, Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum announced the decision. Surrounded by top party figures including Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed and former Senate President Bukola Saraki, Damagum described the move as challenging but widely supported by party stakeholders.
Damagum confirmed that the party will now hold an expanded National Caucus meeting on June 30 instead of the NEC meeting. “We have resolved to do the right thing,” he said, noting that the caucus will deliberate on critical party issues and decisions leading to the upcoming national convention. He explained that INEC had not received valid notice of the NEC meeting because only he had signed it, contrary to internal guidelines requiring both the National Chairman and National Secretary’s signatures.
He emphasized that Anyanwu will resume his role as National Secretary immediately, highlighting the importance of this position to the party’s operations. “This is a bitter pill, but we have to swallow it for the party’s survival,” Damagum said, urging party members to understand the necessity of the decision.
The PDP has grappled with ongoing internal crises since its 2015 electoral loss, including leadership conflicts, defections, and unresolved disputes in key regions. The latest conflict stemmed from a leadership struggle between Sunday Udeh-Okoye and Anyanwu over the National Secretary position, which further deepened divisions and disrupted scheduled NEC meetings.
In an effort to stabilize the party, PDP had appointed Setonji Koshoedo as Acting National Secretary. However, a fact-finding committee led by Taraba State Governor Kefas Agbu confirmed that INEC still recognized Anyanwu as the rightful officeholder. As a result, the PDP’s 99th NEC had scheduled the 100th NEC meeting for June 30, with Damagum notifying INEC via a letter dated May 30.
INEC rejected the letter, stating it did not comply with PDP’s internal procedures requiring joint signatures from the National Chairman and Secretary. INEC advised the party to follow its established rules.
In response to the controversy, PDP’s National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba initially argued that INEC had no authority to interfere in party matters. However, Damagum later distanced the party from Ologunagba’s comments, calling them personal, premature, and lacking proper consultation.
