Hopes that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is finally putting its house in order crashed on Thursday following the controversial attempt by acting National Chairman Umar Damagum to cancel the party’s 100th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting and reinstate Senator Samuel Anyanwu as national secretary.
The move has triggered outrage within the party, with senior leaders accusing Damagum of overstepping his authority and acting against the PDP’s constitution.
The 99th NEC meeting had earlier resolved that the dispute over the national secretary position be addressed during the 100th NEC gathering.
Instead, Damagum attempted to convert the NEC meeting into an expanded caucus gathering, a decision viewed as undermining the party’s decision-making structure.
A senior National Working Committee (NWC) member said, “Damagum’s unilateral reinstatement of Anyanwu is a blatant violation of the PDP constitution and an affront to the NEC’s authority.”
BoT, NWC and Party Factions Reject Damagum’s Moves
The PDP’s Board of Trustees (BoT) and most NWC members have rejected Damagum’s actions, insisting the NEC meeting will proceed as planned on June 30, 2025.
BoT Chairman Senator Adolphus Wabara said the meeting is “binding on all organs and members of the PDP,” and warned that Damagum’s attempt to cancel it lacked legal standing.
Wabara declared, “The attempt by Amb. Damagum to overturn that decision is a gross abuse of office.”
He reaffirmed that Arc. Setonji Koshoedo remains acting national secretary, as earlier approved by the NWC, pending resolution by NEC.
The BoT maintained that the NEC remains the party’s highest decision-making body after the national convention and warned against any further attempts to violate its authority.
“No individual interest is greater than the institutional integrity of the PDP,” Wabara said.
Factions Clash Over Anyanwu’s Return Amid INEC Pressure
The crisis stems from a power struggle between factions loyal to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde.
Wike’s supporters back Senator Anyanwu’s return as national secretary, while Makinde’s camp insists Setonji Koshoedo should remain in that role until NEC resolves the dispute.
A PDP leader from Wike’s camp defended Damagum’s decision, arguing that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) requires the national secretary’s signature for the party’s FCT election preparations.
“The attempt to cancel the NEC meeting was a practical move to address this urgency,” the leader said.
But critics argue that bypassing NEC only deepens mistrust and damages the PDP’s democratic image.
“If the NEC meeting doesn’t unite us, we’re handing our opponents a free pass in the FCT election and beyond,” a party insider warned.
Court Adjourns Suit on Anyanwu’s Status to September
Meanwhile, the Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned hearing in a suit seeking to validate Senator Anyanwu’s position as national secretary until September 22.
Justice Mohammed Umar postponed the case after all the defendants, including the PDP, challenged the court’s jurisdiction.
Anyanwu is seeking a stay of execution on earlier judgments that removed him and recognised Sunday Udeh-Okoye as his replacement.
His lawyer, Mrs U. C. Njamanze-Aku, confirmed that a motion to amend the originating summons had already been filed.
Defendants in the suit include INEC, Damagum, the PDP, Udeh-Okoye, South-East Vice Chairman Ali Odefa, and Koshoedo.
The legal battle is likely to prolong the leadership tussle and add more pressure on the party ahead of its August national convention.
Bode George Dismisses Wike Control Claims, Urges Elders to Intervene
PDP chieftain Bode George has refuted claims that Nyesom Wike controls the party, calling them “a fallacy.”
Speaking on national television, he said Wike is just “a member like anyone else” and insisted the PDP does not belong to any individual.
“When did Wike join the party? Who said he owns it? That’s a fallacy. It’s impossible,” George stated.
He compared PDP to the APC, which he described as a party “owned by one individual,” saying PDP remains democratic and active despite its current challenges.
George urged party elders to step in and help resolve the crisis internally.
“Your ability to close your doors, tell yourself some home truths, and reassess the areas of friction will be a measure of your competence to the public,” he said.
He believes the crisis presents a lesson, not a collapse, and said the PDP can emerge stronger if it puts unity above factional interests.
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