The 100th National Executive Committee meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party unanimously reinstated Senator Samuel Anyanwu as the party’s National Secretary on the condition that he withdrew all legal cases and does not obstruct the forthcoming National Elective Convention slated for August, the PUNCH has exclusively learnt.
Reliable sources within the PDP National Headquarters, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to lack of authorisation to speak on the issue, disclosed that the governors, members of the National Assembly, and the Board of Trustees collectively agreed to reinstate Anyanwu provided he refrained from victimising any party staff and commits to working harmoniously with all members of the National Working Committee.
Additionally, while addressing journalists after the NEC meeting held in Abuja on Monday, PDP acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, confirmed that Anyanwu had been officially reinstated.
Damagum said the 101st NEC meeting had been scheduled for July 23 to finalise arrangements for the upcoming national convention.
The PDP has been struggling with internal conflicts since the 2023 presidential election, which have significantly impacted all arms of the party.
The division became more pronounced after the party leadership wrote to the Independent National Electoral Commission on June 24 regarding the position of National Secretary.
On Sunday afternoon, Damagum convened a meeting at Wadata Plaza with Anyanwu, National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature; National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN); Vice Chairman (North West), Senator Bello Gwarzo; and two other National Working Committee members.
This group reaffirmed their support for holding an expanded National Caucus meeting at 2 p.m. today 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. This group—comprising 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), Ajisafe Toyese—insisted that the NEC meeting proceed as scheduled, with Koshoedo retaining his position as Acting National Secretary.
This internal split reflects the wider power struggle within the party. One 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 NWC members, and other influential party leaders, is pushing for the NEC meeting to go ahead as planned and firmly opposed Anyanwu’s return.
In contrast, a faction led by former Rivers State Governor 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, supports Anyanwu’s reinstatement and has called for the NEC meeting to be delayed.
The scheduling of conflicting meetings by both factions at Wadata Plaza further heightened tensions within the party on Monday.
However, following the cordoning off of Wadata Plaza by Nigeria Police personnel and other security agencies, members of the PDP Board of Trustees relocated their meeting originally scheduled for 11am on Monday at Wadata Plaza to the Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja.
The PDP BoT condemned the incident as a form of harassment and a calculated effort to undermine the party’s internal reconciliation process amid escalating tensions over its leadership crisis and factional rifts.
BoT chairman Senator Adolphus Wabara and secretary Senator Ahmed Makarfi, speaking briefly to journalists before the meeting, stressed the need for party unity.
Makarfi stated, “I arrived at 10am at the Bauchi Governor’s Lodge as instructed. The meeting involved the governors, the National Working Committee, and the National Assembly minority leadership. Its purpose was to bridge gaps within the party, ensuring we could convene as a united front at the planned NEC meeting rather than emerging divided.
“The governors were visibly upset and questioned why such an embarrassment had occurred. By then, the Chairman had already made alternative arrangements, which is why it was decided to hold the meeting here to avoid further issues.
“This kind of interference is unacceptable. It undermines our democracy and the rights of opposition parties to operate freely. We will not be deterred; we remain committed to resolving our internal issues and presenting a strong, united front to the Nigerian people.”
In his remarks, Wabara condemned the blockade, calling it an insult to the PDP and a threat to democratic principles.
He stated, “This morning, I nearly stepped out of my car when I witnessed the treatment of some individuals. I told my driver, ‘No, move,’ as it was deeply embarrassing.
“However, I urge everyone to remain patient. We must not allow this provocation to distract us from our mission to rebuild and strengthen our party.
“Let me emphasise that this is a particularly special BoT meeting. I want it on record that it remains our 80th BoT meeting. We will proceed accordingly so that, in the future, when questions arise, people will understand the extraordinary circumstances under which it was held.
“Despite the challenges, we are determined to uphold the principles of democracy and ensure that the PDP remains a viable alternative for Nigerians.”
Considering, the tense situation, the PDP governors, members of the NWC, Board of Trustees, and several National Assembly members convened an emergency meeting at the Bauchi State Governor’s Lodge in Abuja.
Our correspondent learned that during the meeting, the PDP leaders agreed to go ahead with the 100th NEC meeting as earlier scheduled by the 99th NEC.
Subsequently, a few minutes past 3 p.m., the party leaders arrived at the PDP National Headquarters, Wadata Plaza, in Abuja.
Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Damagum confidently stated that the PDP possessed internal mechanisms strong enough to resolve all its internal crises.
He stated, “I am here to brief you on the outcome of our interaction with NEC as regards the National Secretary. We’ve all combined in one, we were all together, and we all agree that Senator Anyanwu will continue to act as National Secretary.
“And also to bring the issue of the convention — to bring it up in the next NEC, which is slated for the 23rd of 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.”
The source, however, revealed to our correspondent that Anyanwu was reinstated in the interest of the party based on certain conditions.
He stated, “It was a very intense meeting at the Bauchi Governor’s Lodge, and Anyanwu was in attendance. After honest deliberations, it was firmly resolved that in line with the PDP Constitution, the appropriate meeting to hold today (Monday) was the NEC meeting.
“It was also agreed that judging by INEC’s body language, the party could face serious consequences if Anyanwu is not recognized as the National Secretary.
“Therefore, it was unanimously decided to proceed to Wadata Plaza for the NEC meeting, where Anyanwu would be officially reinstated as National Secretary, and a follow-up NEC meeting was scheduled for July 23rd.
“As for the South East, their representatives said they would take the development back to the region for wider consultation and provide feedback at the 101st NEC meeting.
“Part of the agreement reached was that Anyanwu must sign an undertaking to immediately withdraw all court cases related to his position in the PDP National Working Committee, and that no party staff member would face any form of victimization.
“It was further resolved that Anyanwu must not, under any circumstances, interfere with or obstruct the process of the upcoming National Convention, and must adhere strictly to the party’s constitution.”
However, the chairman of the PDP in Enugu State, Dr Martin Chukwunweike, told The PUNCH that the position of the NEC was not acceptable to the South East but noted that the party would convene a meeting to study the position of NEC.
Chukwunweike said, “The South East position is not yet clear even though NEC seems to have resolved that it could be Anyanwu but we in the South East we have not really accepted it.
“We are going to convene and take a decision on that. We are going to reconvene maybe tomorrow or next and study the position of NEC and take a definite position either to accept or not.”
Attempts to reach Anyanwu for comments were unsuccessful, as his phone number was unreachable when our correspondent tried to contact him.
In his opening remarks at the NEC meeting, Damagum stated, “The beauty of our party is that we have always handled our problems in our own way. So, after a few consultations with our leaders the governors, leaders of other organs we said for the synopsis, even though we’ve deferred this NEC and we had challenges, this is our own NEC. And this NEC is going to deliberate on only one item so that we don’t run into issues with the other regulators asking us to do this or do that.
“It is in this NEC that we will discuss when to hold a second NEC and proceed to the convention in a most lawful and profound way. We’ll discuss that and we’ll issue the date when we conclude this meeting. I also want to use this opportunity to remind us that as party faithful, we all have a responsibility to this party.
“I will still use this opportunity to call on party faithful to stop the arbitrary demarketing of this party. I want the media to know if you so much love this party, I think it is now time for you to devote your energy to propagating the beauty of this party and stop demarketing the party, unless you are one of those that have been contracted to come and destroy our party.”
The Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum and Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, stated that the crisis was orchestrated by the opposing party, the All Progressives Congress.
He said, “This is a miracle of the PDP, the party that has history, that has the pedigree and the human capital to deliver Nigeria. We have been engrossed in controversies and challenges, not created by us, but created for us, and we have been navigating them, unlike other parties, irrespective of the manifestations and perceptions out there, the news of people leaving the party is all cosmetic.
“These narratives are created to diminish us. But I must thank the leaders and all the organs of the party, especially the BoT, the caucuses of the National Assembly, and most importantly, my colleagues in the NWC, because everything we are doing today is being done for the NWC.
“I must tell the world that the NWC has collapsed all differences and all wranglings. They met before this meeting. What you have been seeing in terms of press releases has stopped, and you will not see them again. We are all on the same page.
“We are solidly behind this NWC and the governors, and we will continue to work as the conscience of the party and with other organs of the party to ensure our success.”
In his remarks, PDP BoT Chairman and former Senate President, Adolphus Wabara, stated that regardless of the actions of detractors, the party would never collapse.
He stated, “I have always contended that this party will never die, no matter what her detractors feel. This party will never die. We thank the National Working Committee of our party for coming together once again, believing that Nigerians have enormous faith and hope in the PDP.
“We shall survive. The God of politics is in this party. Allah of politics is in this party. For anybody, any other party, to succeed, we have to release our God to bless them. But our God knows that the PDP is the beacon of hope for this country.
“What is happening here today will shock so many people. I am sure they will start planning again to bring problems. NWC don’t allow a crack anymore, because once they see us now coming together, they’ll start doing something to destabilize us, which we will not agree to. So, whatever we are doing here today, we are doing it because of our service to this nation.”
Also, former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, in a statement titled ‘No Victor, No Vanquished, PDP, Nigerian Democracy Won, Says Saraki’ described the NEC meeting as a symbolic gathering.
The statement read, “Today, there was no victor and no vanquished. The winner today is the PDP. Another winner is Nigeria’s democracy because, without a vibrant opposition, democracy dies. Again, millions of our party members and supporters, who are located in all the 774 LGAs across the country also emerged winners.
“To achieve victory for the party and the great people under its golden umbrella, all the leaders at the meeting resolved to jettison our differences and rally together to pursue a common goal: forget the past, rebuild trust that might have been broken, and give peace a chance.
“I am particularly happy about the meeting for two reasons. One, we all agreed on the need for unity as a way of sending a signal to the entire nation that PDP can only wax stronger. This is because we have to live up to the expectations of the generality of our people as the only alternative, capable of providing good leadership to our country. Two, the spirit of give and take dominated our frank discussions.”
The statement added, “The success of today’s NEC meeting is an indication that we have made some progress. We will continue to strive to strengthen the party and I am sure from now on, all hands will be on deck to achieve this noble purpose. We need to realise one fact: there is still a lot of work to be done. The spirit with which we achieved the peace today should be sustained from now on.
“It is good that we have disappointed the pessimists. I hope that with the outcome of today’s meeting, we have disproved the false propaganda being circulated in some quarters that those of us who chose to remain in PDP are only scheming for the death of the party as opposed to building a strong opposition.
