The Peoples Democratic Party has reversed its earlier stance on Senator Samuel Anyanwu and suspended its planned National Executive Committee meeting scheduled for June 30, following a meeting with the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Speaking at a press conference at the PDP national secretariat in Abuja on Wednesday, the party’s Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, described the decision as difficult but widely accepted among key stakeholders.
Flanked by Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, former Senate President Bukola Saraki, and other party stakeholders, Damagum announced that the party has resolved to reintegrate Anyanwu into the National Working Committee.
Damagum stated that the PDP will now hold an expanded National Caucus meeting on June 30 in place of the previously scheduled NEC meeting.
He stated, “So I want to use this opportunity to tell you that we will do the right thing and it is the decision of most members of this party, led by the organs of the party. The leaders of the organs of the party will have an expanded caucus, so that we will discuss extensively the way forward with the NEC. That would be on the 30th. We will issue the notice that there is not going to be an NEC, but an expanded caucus.
“As it is, like they (INEC) told us, they don’t have any notice of the NEC meeting from us because I was the only person who signed, and we have not followed the guidelines. So that caucus will take a decision for NEC as well as all critical issues brought before us and leading to our national convention.
“Anyanwu will resume as the National Secretary. I think that’s the most important thing.”
Damagum described the decisions as a difficult but necessary sacrifice for the advancement of the PDP.
He stated, “INEC is our regulator and they have told us their position as it is, as it affects the issue surrounding the National Secretary. We are all aware that the National Secretary is a signatory of this party. It is a critical position that he holds.
“As such, we have decided to abide by the advice they gave us, especially as we have a very, very important election before us, that is the FCT election, and we are running out of time. So we have no option but to abide by the decision.
“After due consultation and everything, we thought it’s a bitter pill and we have to swallow it. I want to use this opportunity to call on all our party faithful to know that it was a difficult decision. But the survival of the party is more than all of us, more than everything that you feel that you know and yearn for.”
PDP has been beset by persistent internal crises since losing power in 2015. These challenges include leadership disputes, a wave of defections, and unresolved congressional issues in key regions.
At the heart of the latest crisis is a power tussle over the position of National Secretary between Sunday Udeh-Okoye and Anyanwu.
The rivalry has further polarised the party and caused repeated delays of its NEC meetings.
To manage the instability, the PDP appointed Setonji Koshoedo as Acting National Secretary.
However, a fact-finding committee led by Taraba State Governor Kefas Agbu revealed that the INEC still officially recognises Anyanwu as the legitimate National Secretary.
Based on this, the party’s 99th NEC had scheduled the 100th NEC meeting for June 30. Damagum notified INEC via a letter dated May 30.
INEC declined the letter, citing the PDP’s internal rules which require that such correspondence be jointly signed by both the National Chairman and the National Secretary, and urged compliance with proper procedures.
Reacting to the controversy, PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, stated during a Sunday press briefing that INEC’s role is limited to acknowledging notifications of party activities like congresses and conventions, not approving or controlling internal affairs.
However, in a statement issued on Monday, Damagum dissociated the party from Ologunagba’s remarks, describing them as personal opinions made without broad consultation and calling them premature and unfortunate.
