The leadership crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has deepened as 11 out of 19 members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) have rejected the reinstatement of Senator Samuel Anyanwu as National Secretary.
In a joint statement released on Wednesday, the dissenting NWC members also confirmed that the party’s 100th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting will proceed as scheduled on Monday, June 30, 2025. They dismissed recent claims by Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum that the NEC meeting had been cancelled and that Anyanwu had resumed office.
“The claim by Amb. Damagum that Sen. Samuel Anyanwu has been asked to resume office as National Secretary is misleading and runs contrary to the resolution of the NEC,” the statement said.
This rebuttal comes just hours after Damagum, alongside key party figures such as Bauchi State Governor and PDP Governors’ Forum Chairman Bala Mohammed, and former Senate President Bukola Saraki, told journalists following a visit to INEC that Anyanwu had been reinstated and that the NEC meeting had been replaced by an Expanded Caucus meeting.
But the 11 NWC members insisted that no individual or organ within the party has the constitutional power to override NEC decisions.
“The pronouncements by the Acting National Chairman have no constitutional backing. No person, group, or party organ including the NWC can veto, cancel, or alter the decision of the NEC as outlined in the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017),” they stated.
Reaffirming the supremacy of the NEC, the group cited Section 31(3) of the party’s constitution, which positions the NEC as the party’s highest decision-making body after the National Convention.
They maintained that the NEC’s decision to convene on June 30 is binding on all party structures and members nationwide.
The statement was signed by the following NWC members:
Amb. Taofeek Arapaja (Deputy National Chairman, South)
Hon. (Arc) Setonji Koshoedo (Acting National Secretary)
Hon. Ahmed Yayari Mohammed (National Treasurer)
Sir Okechukwu Obiechina-Daniel (National Auditor)
Hon. Debo Ologunagba (National Publicity Secretary)
Dr. Woyengikuro Daniel (National Financial Secretary)
High Chief Ali Odefa (National Vice Chairman, South-East)
Hon. Emmanuel Ogidi (Caretaker Chair, South-South)
Hon. Mrs. Amina Darasimi D. Bryhm (National Woman Leader)
Sen. Bello Hayatu Gwarzo, CON (National Vice Chairman, North-West)
Hon. Ajisafe Kamoru Toyese (National Vice Chairman, South-West)
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