The Peoples Democratic Party has reversed its earlier decision on Senator Samuel Anyanwu’s status and canceled its scheduled National Executive Committee meeting, following crucial consultations with the Independent National Electoral Commission.
According to The PUNCH, the party’s Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, made the announcement at a press briefing held on Wednesday at the PDP National Secretariat in Abuja.
He confirmed that Anyanwu has been reinstated as the National Secretary and will resume official duties immediately.
“This decision was not easy,” Damagum stated. “But it is in the interest of our party’s survival. After wide consultations and in light of INEC’s position, we have resolved to reintegrate Senator Anyanwu. The leadership has agreed to put the party first, above all personal interests.”
Flanked by Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, former Senate President Bukola Saraki, and other key stakeholders, Damagum also disclosed that the NEC meeting initially scheduled for June 30 has been shelved. Instead, the party will convene an expanded National Caucus meeting on the same date.
“We have agreed that on June 30, there will be no NEC meeting, but an enlarged caucus session. That meeting will allow broader input and ultimately lead to informed resolutions moving forward,” he explained.
Damagum noted that INEC had declined to acknowledge the party’s earlier notice for the NEC meeting, citing procedural issues. “INEC made it clear they received a letter signed only by me, which violates our guidelines. The rules demand that such notices be jointly signed by the National Chairman and National Secretary. Since Senator Anyanwu remains the recognized secretary, we must comply,” he said.
The leadership tussle over the office of National Secretary between Anyanwu and Sunday Udeh-Okoye has been one of the major flashpoints of internal conflict within the PDP. In response to the dispute, Setonji Koshoedo was earlier appointed in acting capacity.
However, a fact-finding committee led by Taraba State Governor Kefas Agbu confirmed that INEC still recognizes Anyanwu as the party’s substantive National Secretary.
“This is a bitter pill, but one we must swallow,” Damagum added. “We must think of the bigger picture, especially with the upcoming FCT elections. We don’t have the luxury of time.”
The PDP, which lost federal power in 2015, has been battling recurrent internal crises ranging from leadership rifts and mass defections to unresolved congresses in strategic zones.
The controversy escalated earlier in the week when the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, claimed INEC’s role was merely to acknowledge, not dictate, party procedures. But Damagum distanced the party from that stance, describing Ologunagba’s comments as “his personal opinion, made without wider consultation.”
Reiterating the PDP’s commitment to unity and due process, Damagum called on party members to embrace the new direction. “We all made sacrifices today, and I appeal to our members nationwide to see this as a necessary step to stabilize the PDP. The party is bigger than any one of us,” he concluded.
