The internal crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) escalated on Wednesday as 11 out of 19 members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) formally rejected the return of Senator Samuel Anyanwu as the PDP’s National Secretary.
In a joint statement, the NWC members also affirmed that the party’s 100th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, scheduled for Monday, June 30, 2025, will proceed as planned—contrary to claims by Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum that it had been cancelled.
They described Damagum’s announcement—made alongside key party figures such as Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed and former Senate President Bukola Saraki—that Anyanwu had resumed office and the NEC meeting had been replaced by an Expanded Caucus meeting—as “misleading” and “contrary to NEC resolutions.”
“The claim by Amb. Damagum that Sen. Samuel Anyanwu has been asked to resume office as National Secretary is misleading and contradicts the resolution of the NEC,” the statement read.
The group emphasized that under the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017), no individual, group, or party organ has the authority to override or vary decisions made by the NEC, which remains the party’s highest decision-making body after the National Convention.
“For the avoidance of doubt, by virtue of Section 31 (3) of the PDP Constitution, the resolution of NEC to hold its 100th meeting on June 30, 2025, is binding on all party organs, officers, chapters, and members,” the statement added.
The 11 signatories to the statement include:
- Amb. Taofeek Arapaja (Deputy National Chairman, South)
- Hon. (Arc) Setonji Koshoedo (Acting National Secretary)
- Hon. Ahmed Yayari Mohammed (National Treasurer)
- Sir Okechukwu Obiechina-Daniel (National Auditor)
- Hon. Debo Ologunagba (National Publicity Secretary)
- Dr. Woyengikuro Daniel (National Financial Secretary)
- High Chief Ali Odefa (National Vice Chairman, South-East)
- Hon. Emmanuel Ogidi (Caretaker Chair, South-South)
- Hon. Amina Darasimi Bryhm (National Woman Leader)
- Sen. Bello Hayatu Gwarzo (National Vice Chairman, North-West)
- Hon. Ajisafe Kamoru Toyese (National Vice Chairman, South-West)
This development signals growing tensions within the PDP, as factions within the leadership continue to clash over the party’s direction and internal governance structure.