PDP reinstates Anyanwu as national secretary, suspends NEC meeting

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has reversed its earlier position on Samuel Anyanwu and announced his reinstatement as the party’s National Secretary.

It also suspended its planned National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting initially scheduled for June 30, following a meeting with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday at the PDP national secretariat in Abuja, Umar Damagum, the party’s acting national chairman, acknowledged the move was a tough but necessary compromise broadly agreed upon by key stakeholders.

“This is a difficult decision, but it is widely accepted among the leaders and organs of the party,” Damagum said.

He was joined by Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, former Senate President Bukola Saraki, and other top PDP leaders.

Damagum announced that the party will now convene an expanded National Caucus meeting on June 30, replacing the earlier scheduled NEC meeting.

“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.

“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.”

Explaining the decision further, Damagum noted that INEC had informed the party that proper procedure was not followed in convening the NEC meeting.

“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 said. “So that caucus will take a decision for NEC as well as all critical issues brought before us and leading to our national convention.”

He confirmed, “Anyanwu will resume as the National Secretary. I think that’s the most important thing.”

Damagum described the development as a “bitter pill” the party had to swallow in the interest of unity and electoral readiness.

“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,” he stated.

“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.”

The PDP has been grappling with internal turmoil since its loss of power in 2015, with leadership crises, unresolved congresses, and high-profile defections undermining party cohesion.

The latest crisis stems from a fierce tussle over the position of National Secretary between Anyanwu and Sunday Udeh-Okoye. The division led to the repeated postponement of NEC meetings and further factionalisation.

To navigate the stalemate, the party appointed Setonji Koshoedo as acting national secretary. However, a fact-finding committee chaired by Taraba State Governor Kefas Agbu confirmed that INEC still officially recognises Anyanwu as the substantive national secretary.

Following that, the PDP’s 99th NEC had scheduled the 100th NEC meeting for June 30, with Damagum notifying INEC via a letter dated May 30. INEC rejected the notice, citing non-compliance with the PDP constitution, which mandates that both the National Chairman and National Secretary jointly sign such correspondence.