The Peoples Democratic Party is currently stuck in confusion over whether its rescheduled 100th National Executive Committee meeting will still be held as planned.
This followed a decision by Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum to turn the NEC meeting into an expanded caucus meeting and reinstate Senator Samuel Anyanwu as national secretary.
The party’s Board of Trustees, BoT, and National Working Committee, NWC, have insisted the NEC meeting must go ahead, stressing that the 99th NEC meeting had resolved that the dispute over the national secretary be settled at the next NEC.
They accused Damagum of going beyond his powers and worsening the internal crisis.
Sources told Vanguard yesterday that this latest development has deepened divisions in the party.
Factions loyal to FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, are backing Anyanwu, while supporters of Oyo State governor Seyi Makinde, are standing by Acting National Secretary, Setonji Koshoedo, for now and Sunday Udeh-Okoye as the long-term replacement.
The dispute intensified after a Supreme Court ruling on March 21, 2025, in the case of Senator Samuel N. Anyanwu v. Aniagwu Emmanuel & 3 Ors. (SC/CV/18/2025).
The court treated the issue as an internal party matter but failed to end the disagreements.
Damagum’s move to reinstate Anyanwu and cancel the NEC meeting has angered many PDP leaders, who said the move was against the party’s constitution and undermined NEC’s authority.
PDP Southeast Vice Chairman, High Chief Ali Odefa, told Vanguard that the leaders of the party in the region were still discussing the matter.
“You will hear from us. We are yet to meet. When we meet, you will hear from us,” he said.
Meanwhile, a PDP member who supports Damagum defended the decision, saying the party needed to meet the demands of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
“I’m baffled by the resistance to Anyanwu’s reinstatement. INEC made it clear that without the national secretary’s signature, our FCT election preparations are stalled, risking our credibility as an opposition party.
“The attempt to cancel the NEC meeting was a practical move to address this urgency. Why not hold a smaller caucus meeting to resolve the INEC issue and then proceed with the NEC? This endless bickering only weakens us at a time we need to show strength,” he said.
