By Vincent Egunyanga and Ben Adoga, Abuja
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has reinstated Senator Samuel Anyanwu as its National Secretary, effectively resolving a long-standing leadership dispute within the party.
The decision followed a crucial meeting with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday, which highlighted the Commission’s inability to attend the party’s proposed National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting due to inconsistencies in documentation stemming from the secretary-ship tussle.
INEC cited the lack of consistency in signatures and communication from the party’s national secretariat, which, it said, contradicted its guidelines and the Electoral Act.
Announcing the development at a news conference in Abuja, the acting National Chairman of the PDP, Ambassador Umar Damagum, said Anyanwu had resumed duties as National Secretary.
“Anyanwu is resuming as the national secretary,” Damagun stated. “At the next caucus, we will make a decision leading to a proper NEC. As INEC said, they don’t have our notice, so that we will have an extended caucus meeting on June 30.”
The press briefing was attended by prominent party figures, including the Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum and Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, and the former Senate President, Bukola Saraki.
The leadership tussle over the position of PDP National Secretary began in late 2023 when Anyanwu emerged as the party’s governorship candidate in Imo State, triggering calls from the South-East PDP bloc to replace him.
The region nominated Sunday Udeh-Okoye, a former National Youth Leader of the party, as his replacement. However, Anyanwu challenged his removal in court and secured a high court injunction, stopping the party from replacing him.
The controversy deepened in December 2024 when the Court of Appeal overturned the high court verdict, ruling that the injunction lacked merit and paving the way for Udeh-Okoye’s recognition.
Despite the appellate court ruling, the matter remained unresolved, with both men claiming the position. Udeh-Okoye declared himself as the substantive National Secretary, while Anyanwu maintained that he was still legally the party’s chief scribe.
With INEC’s position now publicly clarified and the risk of further complications ahead of the 2027 elections, party leaders appear keen on avoiding a full-blown crisis.
The PDP has also announced the suspension of its scheduled 100th NEC meeting, which was to be held on June 30, opting instead for an expanded caucus session on the same date to chart a new course.
Party insiders said the expanded caucus would deliberate on resolutions aimed at stabilising the national leadership and preparing for a more inclusive and legally compliant NEC meeting shortly.
While it remains unclear whether the reinstatement of Anyanwu will be final or a stop-gap measure, the announcement marks a significant turning point in efforts to reconcile internal differences within Nigeria’s leading opposition party.
*He’s been working, not an appointee, Wike chides Damagum
Meanwhile, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, chided the PDP on defections and the party’s national secretary.
While the Senate President said President Tinubu, as a Democrat, likes vibrant opposition, Wike stated that for the PDP to take the issue of the party’s National Secretary to INEC shows that they are ignorant of the law.
They made this announcement on Wednesday during the commissioning of the Katampe interchange, which opens the Murtala Mohammed Way to the Woke Soyinka Way, linking the Katampe extension.
Wike said it was laughable to hear the acting National Chairman of the PDP directing the National Secretary, Sam Anyanwu, who is not his appointee and has been fulfilling his responsibilities, to ‘resume.’
Wike noted that the leadership of the party have continued to wallow in ignorance.
He noted that it was ridiculous for a political party to be consulting the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before obeying the judgement of the Supreme Court concerning the party’s National Secretary.
Wike said, “I watched on national television, even though this is not a political rally, but anyhow, it is still politics. I heard it when the acting National Chairman of the PDP directed the National Secretary to resume. The National Secretary is not your appointee. The National Secretary has been doing his work.
“So, you can’t call him to resume. Because of the illegalities that you perpetrate and that you don’t show leadership, that is where you put yourself where you are. It is nobody’s making. The National Secretary has been working and will continue to work. He doesn’t require anybody to direct him to resume work. It is because of your ignorance of the law. Too bad the law does not recognise ignorance. They are ignorant of the law. It is not an excuse.
“I feel so bad when people can now move to INEC for INEC to direct them to obey the Supreme Court judgment. It is most unfortunate. A political party would now go and ask INEC, what do we do? INEC would not direct you to go and obey the Supreme Court judgment.
“When you shoot yourself, you will say somebody has shot you. Continue to shoot yourself. I will not be a party to those that will shoot me. When you don’t know something, ask the right person,” he said.
On the other hand, Akpabio, who gave his opinion before stepping in to represent the President, noted that the PDP was not the only party with an internal crisis and defections; he said even a Labour senator defected on the floor of the Senate on Wednesday.
He said, “I will say that however you people get yourself into this competition, try and get yourself out of it very quickly. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is keen on seeing a vibrant opposition.
“It’s not only PDP that is in disarray. Even the Labour Party is cracked. And people who are strong members of the Labour Party are angling to run Nigeria when they cannot put a small political party like that in order.”
He said he would, however, not be tired of receiving them at the APC.
*Eleven NWC members reject Anyawu’s recall
In the meantime, 11 members of the National Working Committee (NWC) have rejected the reinstatement of Anyanwu.
The development followed a meeting between the party leaders and the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.
However, hours after Damagum’s position was made public, the 11 NWC members stated that Damagum lacked the authority to take such actions.
They also insisted that the NEC meeting had not been postponed.
The rejection notice was signed by 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, and Hon. Debo Ologunagba – National Publicity Secretary, among others.
They said, “The attention of the “National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been drawn to a press briefing by the Acting National Chairman, Amb. Umar Damagum, on June 25, 2025, attempted to overturn the resolution of the 99th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, which had scheduled the 100th NEC meeting for Monday, June 30, 2025.
“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, which referred all matters relating to the office of the National Secretary to 100th NEC meeting.
“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) under the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017),” they said in the notice.
