The 100th meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has brought Senator Samuel Anyanwu back as the party’s National Secretary.
Speaking to journalists shortly after the NEC meeting in Abuja on Monday, Acting National Chairman of the PDP, Umar Damagum, confirmed that Anyanwu had been reinstated into his position. According to Damagum, the next NEC meeting—its 101st—has been fixed for July 23. That meeting is expected to conclude arrangements for the party’s next national convention.
Since the 2023 presidential election, the PDP has been facing internal struggles that have caused serious divisions within the party. These issues intensified on June 24 when the party leadership wrote to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) about the secretary position, creating further uncertainty.
On Sunday, Damagum held a crucial meeting at Wadata Plaza. Attendees included Senator Samuel Anyanwu, National Organising Secretary Umar Bature, National Legal Adviser Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN), Senator Bello Gwarzo, and two other National Working Committee (NWC) members. During the meeting, the group backed plans to hold an expanded National Caucus session on Monday and confirmed their recognition of Anyanwu as the rightful National Secretary.
However, later that day, another NWC group met separately. This second group was led by Deputy National Chairman (South), Taofeek Arapaja, and included figures like Ali Odefa, Emmanuel Ogidi, Amina Darasimi, Setonji Koshoedo (Acting National Secretary at the time), and others. They insisted that the NEC meeting should go ahead with Koshoedo still in place.
This division reflects a wider internal dispute. One side, backed by Governors Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Peter Mbah (Enugu), Douye Diri (Bayelsa), Ademola Adeleke (Osun), Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), and several NWC members, strongly rejected Anyanwu’s return. They wanted the NEC meeting to proceed with no changes.
In contrast, another group, linked to former Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike and supported by Governors Caleb Muftwang (Plateau), Kefas Agbu (Taraba), Adamu Fintiri (Adamawa), and Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), along with Damagum, Bature, and Ajibade, gave their support to Anyanwu and called for the meeting to be delayed.
Both camps had planned their meetings at Wadata Plaza, further increasing tension. However, with heavy police presence at the venue, the situation was brought under control. Key PDP members, including governors, NWC members, Board of Trustees members, and lawmakers, then met at the Bauchi State Governor’s Lodge in Abuja to resolve the matter.
Sources say the leaders decided to continue with the 100th NEC meeting as originally scheduled. Around 3:00 p.m., the PDP leaders arrived at the party’s headquarters to begin discussions.
After the meeting, Damagum addressed the media. He noted that the PDP has the structure and tools to settle its problems internally. He said, “We’ve all combined in one, we were all together, and we all agree that Senator Anyanwu will continue to act as National Secretary.” He also noted that the upcoming NEC on July 23 would handle the party’s convention planning, with both him and Anyanwu signing as part of INEC requirements.
He added, “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.”
