The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is currently embroiled in internal turmoil following conflicting statements regarding the status of its National Executive Committee, NEC, meeting and the reinstatement of Samuel Anyanwu as National Secretary.
On Wednesday, the National Working Committee, NWC, of the party refuted claims made by Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, about the postponement of the upcoming NEC meeting and the resumption of Anyanwu to office.
Earlier in the day, Damagum had announced that the 100th NEC meeting, originally scheduled for Monday, June 30, 2025, had been postponed. He also stated that Anyanwu was to resume his duties as National Secretary.
However, in a swift rebuttal, the PDP NWC issued a statement denying both claims. “The pronouncements by the Acting National Chairman have no foundation as 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 (NEC),” the statement read.
The NWC emphasized that the NEC remains the highest decision-making body of the party after the National Convention, citing Section 31 (3) of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017). It insisted that resolutions made by the NEC are binding on all members and organs of the party.
The committee reaffirmed that the NEC meeting will hold as planned on June 30 and maintained that the issue of the National Secretary’s office will be addressed then.
The NWC described Damagum’s announcement on Anyanwu as “misleading” and without merit, stating that “the matter remains under the jurisdiction of the forthcoming NEC meeting.”
The statement was jointly signed by key PDP NWC members including Deputy National Chairman (South), Taofeek Arapaja, Acting National Secretary, Setonji Koshoedo, National Treasurer, Ahmed Yayari Mohammed, National Auditor, Okechukwu Obiechina Daniel, and National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba.
