The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has reinstated Senator Samuel Anyanwu as its National Secretary and suspended its planned National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting initially slated for June 30.
This shift follows a closed-door meeting with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which faulted the party’s procedure for notifying the commission of the upcoming NEC gathering.
Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, June 25, at the PDP national secretariat in Abuja, the party’s Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, admitted the decision was tough but necessary.
“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,” he said.
Flanked by top party figures including Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed and former Senate President Bukola Saraki, Damagum added that the party would instead convene an expanded National Caucus meeting on June 30 to discuss the way forward.
“That would be on the 30th. We will issue the notice that there is not going to be an NEC, but an expanded caucus,” Damagum said.
Explaining the need for this change, he noted that INEC had warned that proper notification procedures weren’t followed.
“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,” he explained.
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Damagum also confirmed Anyanwu’s reinstatement. “Anyanwu will resume as the National Secretary. I think that’s the most important thing.”
He acknowledged the internal challenges facing the PDP but stressed the party’s survival as the top priority.
“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,” he added.
The PDP has been plagued by internal conflicts since losing national power in 2015, with the most recent dispute centring on the National Secretary position.
A power struggle between Sunday Udeh-Okoye and Anyanwu had led to delays in convening the NEC and created divisions within the party.
Although Setonji Koshoedo was appointed acting secretary to fill the vacuum, a report by a fact-finding team led by Taraba State Governor Kefas Agbu confirmed that INEC still recognised Anyanwu.
The commission also rejected Damagum’s letter notifying it of the June 30 NEC meeting, citing internal PDP rules that require such letters to be co-signed by both the chairman and the national secretary.
In response, PDP spokesman Debo Ologunagba had insisted INEC’s role was limited to receiving notifications and not interfering in internal matters.
However, Damagum publicly dissociated the party from Ologunagba’s statement, calling it premature and not representative of the party’s consensus.