A fresh wave of internal conflict has hit the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as 11 out of 19 members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) have rejected the return of Senator Samuel Anyanwu as National Secretary.
In a joint statement issued on Wednesday, the NWC members also insisted that the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting scheduled for Monday, June 30, 2025, will proceed as planned, contrary to claims by the Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum.
They dismissed Damagum’s earlier announcement that Anyanwu had resumed his role and that the NEC meeting had been cancelled, calling it misleading and contrary to NEC’s resolutions.
“The claim by Amb. Damagum that Sen. Samuel Anyanwu has been asked to resume office is misleading, as it contradicts the NEC’s decision.
The 100th NEC meeting remains scheduled for Monday, June 30, 2025,” the statement read.
Damagum had made the announcement following a visit to the Independent National Electoral Commission, accompanied by PDP leaders including Bauchi State Governor and PDP Governors’ Forum Chairman, Bala Mohammed, and former Senate President, Bukola Saraki.
However, the opposing NWC members stated that no party official or organ has the authority to override NEC decisions.
“The Acting National Chairman’s pronouncements lack constitutional basis.
No individual, group, or organ—including the NWC—can cancel, amend, or override NEC resolutions,” they said.
They emphasized that under the PDP Constitution (amended in 2017), NEC remains the highest decision-making body after the National Convention, and its decisions are binding on all party members and structures.