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By Tracy Moses
A coalition of opposition lawmakers has raised concerns over an alleged plot by the acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ambassador Umar Damagum, to undermine the party’s acting National Secretary, Architect Setonji Koshoedo, in a bid to scuttle the upcoming National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting scheduled for May 27.
Spokesperson for the coalition, Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, alleged that Damagum is attempting to secretly transmit a letter to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) aimed at sidelining Koshoedo and stalling the NEC meeting, which is expected to address pressing internal party issues.
Ugochinyere, referencing recent developments, emphasized that the removal of Senator Samuel Anyanwu as the former National Secretary had already been ratified by the PDP’s National Working Committee (NWC) and acknowledged by INEC. He added that INEC had duly received and acted upon nomination letters for the Anambra governorship election, signed by Damagum and the newly appointed acting secretary, Koshoedo.
This comes amid ongoing turmoil within the party, as PDP governors convened Sunday night to deliberate on resolving the leadership crisis. Despite Koshoedo formally assuming office last week, Anyanwu resumed duties at the party secretariat on Monday, fueling further confusion.
Notably, at the deadline for submitting candidate names for the Anambra governorship election, Anyanwu and Damagum jointly forwarded the names of Ezenwafor Jude C. as governorship candidate and Hon. Okeke Francis Chukwudi as running mate to INEC.
However, Ugochinyere clarified that earlier letters dated May 5 and May 7, co-signed by Damagum and Koshoedo, had already been submitted to INEC, affirming Koshoedo’s position as the acting National Secretary following a resolution at the 600th NWC meeting held on April 29.
The letters read in part:
“We write to formally inform the Commission that the leadership of our Party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), at its 600th National Working Committee (NWC) meeting held on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, resolved and directed that the Deputy National Secretary (DNS), Hon. (Arc) Setonji Koshoedo, assume office as Acting National Secretary until further notice…
We request that the Commission update its records accordingly and accord the Acting National Secretary the necessary recognition and support.”
In a subsequent communication to INEC, the PDP confirmed its candidate for the November 8, 2025 Anambra governorship election:
“We write to inform the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that Ezenwafor Jude C. is the Peoples Democratic Party’s gubernatorial candidate, having emerged winner of the party’s primary monitored by the Commission. Hon. Okeke Francis Chukwudi is his running mate.
We hereby forward their particulars — Forms EC-9, EC-9B, and EC-13B, for your records.”
Ugochinyere commended the PDP NWC and Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah for standing firm against “traitors” seeking to destabilize the party. He noted that preparations are underway for the nomination of a substantive National Secretary from the South-East region.
Reiterating his earlier calls, Ugochinyere demanded the immediate expulsion of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and Senator Samuel Anyanwu from the party, accusing them of sabotaging the PDP from within.