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By Myke Agunwa, Abuja
The uncertainty surrounding the 100th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has deepened internal divisions, sparking controversy within the opposition party.
While some factions strongly oppose the meeting, arguing that conditions are not right as due processes were not followed, others insist the meeting must hold as scheduled. This disagreement has heightened tension, weakened party cohesion, and raised fears of possible confrontations. With both camps mobilizing support, the atmosphere is becoming increasingly volatile.
The National Executive Committee (NEC) of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after its 99th NEC which took place on May 27 at the party’s Legacy office in Maitama, Abuja, resolved to hold another NEC and a series of meetings before its National Convention slated for between 27 – 29th August, 2025, in Kano.
Acting National Chairman of the party, Amb. Umar Damagum announced that another NEC will be held on the 30th of June and that he had been mandated to write the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to keep them on notice.
However, the party’s National Secretary, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu, described the 99th NEC as an expanded stakeholders meeting, claiming that for the NEC to be validly convened, notice of the meeting must be jointly signed by the party’s National Chairman and Secretary but the 99th NEC was signed by the National Chairman and Deputy Secretary Setonji Koshoedo.
He said, “Let me tell you, nobody can sign a document outside me. They came to find it themselves after doubting what I told them.
“I sent out a letter signed by me that the NEC is postponed pending when they finalize. So what they had there was not NEC, it was a stakeholders meeting, because NEC had not signed for it. If it is a NEC meeting, any decision taken there is an illegality because PDP is a party, an organization, ruled by law and we should respect our constitution”.
The 100th NEC has been enmeshed in series of controversy. While some faction of NEC members and stakeholders loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike hold that any NEC that was not endorsed by the party’s National Secretary, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu is null and void, another faction led by Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo state maintains that NEC must hold Monday arguing that all conditions has been met.
But the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in reaction to the notice of 100th NEC, pointed out that the notice of NEC meeting was only signed by the National Chairman and not countersigned by the National Secretary as enshrined in the electoral act.
At a meeting between PDP and INEC, the Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu noted that the PDP sent out four letters recently to the commission with three different persons signing as National Secretary, adding that the Commission is confused on who is the National Secretary of PDP.
He said, “I am glad that that meeting was the 100th meeting of the National Party, meaning that 99 times in the past, you fully complied by inviting us by means of a letter signed by the Chairman and Secretary of the party.
“So there are issues to discuss, and we look forward to these important delegations from the party as to who is the secretary. In the last couple of months, we received letters from the party saying that one Sunday Ude-Okoye was the secretary. Thereafter, the party changed its mind and said it was said to Sen. Samuel Anyanwu. Thereafter, the party changed its mind to say that it was Setonji Koshoedo. And again the party changed its mind to say Anyanwu” he said.
After series of marathon meeting between party stakeholders, Board of Trustee (BoT) NEC and PDP governors including governors Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Zamfara State’s Dauda Lawal, Bauchi State’s Abdulkadir Mohammed and Plateau State’s Caleb Muftwang, the controversy on the real occupant of the office of National Secretary deepened with the party’s leadership unable to agree if the 100th NEC can hold without the endorsement of Anyanwu.
Damagum last week cancelled the NEC meeting and lamented that it was a painful decision and furthermore affirmed Anyanwu as the National Secretary of the party.
Speaking with journalists in the company of the chairman of PDP governors Forum and governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, Damagum said, “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.
“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. The leaders of the organs of the party will have an expanded caucus, so that we will discuss extensively the way forward to NEC. That would be on the 30th, we will issue the notice there is not going to be NEC, but an expanded caucus.
“As it is, like they told us, they don’t have any notice of NEC meeting from us because I was the only person that signed and we have not followed the guidelines. So that caucus will take a decision for NEC as well as all critical issues brought before us and leading to our national convention.
“Anyanwu will resume as the National Secretary. I think that’s the most important thing” he said.
The move was sharply countered by several organs of the party including some NEC, Board of Trustees and even NWC members.
11 out of the 17 members of the National Working Committee (NWC) rejected the reinstatement of Senator Samuel Anyanwu as National Secretary, accusing Acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum, of overstepping his powers and insisted the NEC must hold.
The NWC members are Taofeek Arapaja (deputy national chairman, south), Setonji Koshoedo (acting national secretary), Ahmed Mohammed (national treasurer), Okechukwu Daniel (national auditor) and Debo Ologunagba (national publicity secretary).
Others are Woyengikuro Daniel (national financial secretary), Ali Odefa (national vice chairman, south-east), Emmanuel Ogidi- (caretaker committee chairman, south-south), Amina Bryhm (national woman leader).
Hayatu Gwarzo (national vice chairman, north-west), and Ajisafe Toyese (national vice chairman, south-west) make up the list.
“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),” the statement reads.
“Furthermore, the claim by Amb. Damagum that sen. Samuel Anyanwu has been asked to resume office as the national secretary of the party is therefore misleading, being contrary to the resolution of NEC.
“In the light of the foregoing, the 100th NEC meeting as scheduled for Monday, 30th June, 2025 has not been cancelled or postponed” they said.
Similarly, The Board of Trustees and Ex-Officio Forum of the Peoples Democratic Party rejected Damagum’s position, insisting that the 100th National Executive Committee meeting scheduled for June 30 must go ahead as planned.
The BoT also reaffirmed the appointment of Setonji Koshoedo as Acting National Secretary.
In a statement on Friday, Wabara said, “The BoT, in defence of the Constitution of the PDP, states categorically that these pronouncements by the Acting National Chairman are null, void and of no effect, being inconsistent and in gross violation of the express provisions of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017).
“The NEC is the highest decision-making organ of the party, second only to the National Convention. By virtue of Section 31 (3) of the PDP Constitution, the resolution at the 99th NEC meeting held on Tuesday, 27th May, 2025, to hold its 100th meeting on Monday, 30th June, 2025, is binding on all organs and members of the PDP.
“The decision of the National Working Committee directing the Deputy National Secretary to act as National Secretary in accordance with the extant powers of the NWC remains valid, having not been set aside by the NWC or NEC. The attempt by Amb. Damagum to overturn that decision is a gross abuse of office,” the statement said.
The risk of parallel gatherings, physical altercations, or unruly protests cannot be ruled out at Monday’s meeting. There are concerns that the crisis might attract external interference or security breaches, especially if the venue becomes a flashpoint for rival supporters.
If not properly managed, the situation could spiral into chaos, affecting the party’s image and threatening the safety of key stakeholders. Security agencies may need to intervene to prevent escalation and ensure peace.