Senator Samuel Anyanwu has been reinstated as the National Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), the party’s Acting National Chairman, Amb. Umar Damagum, has announced.
Damagum disclosed this on Monday evening at the conclusion of the party’s 100th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held in Abuja.
The Chairman also announced that the 101st NEC meeting is scheduled for July 23 to finalize arrangements for the upcoming national convention.
This reinstatement comes as the PDP continues to grapple with internal conflicts that have significantly impacted all arms of the party since the 2023 presidential election.
The division became more pronounced after the party leadership wrote to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) last Tuesday, regarding the position of National Secretary, further escalating the crisis.
On Sunday June 29, Damagum had convened a meeting at Wadata Plaza with the embattled National Secretary, Anyanwu, National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature, National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade; Vice Chairman (North West), Sen. Bello Gwarzo; and two other National Working Committee (NWC) members.
The group also reaffirmed their support for an expanded national caucus meeting at 2 p.m.on Monday and reiterated their recognition of Anyanwu as the party’s duly elected National Secretary.
Later that same day, a rival faction of the NWC also met at the party’s headquarters.
They included the Deputy National Chairman (South), Taofeek Arapaja; National Vice Chairman (South East), Ali Odefa; South East Caretaker Chairman, Emmanuel Ogidi; National Woman Leader, Amina Darasimi; Acting National Secretary, Setonji Koshoedo; National Auditor, Okechukwu Obiechin; National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba; National Financial Secretary, Woyengikuro Daniel; and National Vice Chairman (South West).
Mr. Ajisafe Toyese insisted the NEC meeting proceed as scheduled, with Koshoedo keeping his position as Acting National Secretary. This internal split mirrors the broader power struggle within the party.
Another bloc, aligned with Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and supported by Governors Peter Mbah (Enugu), Douye Diri (Bayelsa), Ademola Adeleke (Osun), Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), 11 National Working Committee (NWC) members, and other influential party leaders, pushed for the NEC meeting to continue as planned while opposing Anyanwu’s return.
However, a faction led by former Rivers State Governor and FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, with the backing of Governors Caleb Muftwang (Plateau), Kefas Agbu (Taraba), Adamu Fintiri (Adamawa), and Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), as well as Damagum, Bature, and Ajibade, supported Anyanwu’s reinstatement and called for the NEC meeting to be delayed.
The scheduling of conflicting meetings by both factions at Wadata Plaza further heightened party tensions.
Following the cordoning off of Wadata Plaza by the Nigeria Police and other security agencies, PDP governors, NWC members, Board of Trustees members, and several National Assembly members convened an emergency meeting at the Bauchi State Governor’s Lodge in Abuja.
Briefing newsmen after the meeting, Damagum said the PDP has a strong internal mechanisms to resolve all its internal crises.
“I am here to brief you on the outcome of our interaction with NEC as regards the National Secretary. We have all combined in one, we were all together, and we all agree that Senator Anyanwu will continue to act as National Secretary.
“Also to bring the issue of the convention to bring it up in the next NEC, which is slated for the 23rd of next month (July).
At that time, we will be able to convene a proper NEC, where myself and Senator Anyanwu will sign, which is to fulfill the regulatory requirement of INEC in convening meetings.
“So, to our detractors who thought this meeting would go on course or perhaps be the end of the party, the beauty of the Peoples Democratic Party is that it is the only party in this country that has and knows the internal mechanism to solve its own problems and run freely.
“As you can see, all our governors attended the meeting; all members of the NWC were on the same page. You will not be seeing all these press releases and counter-press releases,” he said.
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