The Board of Trustees and the National Ex-Officio Forum of the Peoples Democratic Party have pushed back against the recent steps taken by Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, insisting that the 100th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting set for June 30 must not be cancelled.
The BoT also stood by the appointment of Setonji Koshoedo as Acting National Secretary, despite continued claims that Senator Samuel Anyanwu still holds the substantive post. In official responses, both BoT Chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara, and leaders of the Ex-Officio Forum, Faboyede Clement and Comfort Yassan, stated that Damagum’s attempt to cancel the NEC meeting and reinstate Anyanwu goes against the PDP Constitution.
Since its defeat in 2015, the PDP has been plagued by internal issues—ranging from leadership changes to factional disputes. To help bring stability, Koshoedo was named Acting Secretary. However, a committee led by Governor Kefas Agbu of Taraba revealed that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) still recognises Anyanwu.
Though the party had previously fixed June 30 for its landmark NEC meeting at the 99th NEC session, INEC declined the notification due to the absence of the required dual signatures from both the National Chairman and Secretary. PDP’s Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, responded by saying INEC’s job is only to receive notices, not to interfere in party decisions. Damagum, however, said those comments were not from the party and were made without consensus.
Damagum later announced the cancellation of the NEC meeting, replacing it with a national caucus gathering. He also declared Anyanwu reinstated as National Secretary. He claimed these actions had wide support within the party.
But the majority of the National Working Committee disagreed. Out of 19 members, 11 opposed both the NEC cancellation and Anyanwu’s reinstatement. They said they would stick to the earlier decision and proceed with the NEC meeting as planned.
In a press release signed by Senator Wabara, the BoT called Damagum’s actions unconstitutional.
He said, “The attention of the Board of Trustees of the PDP has been drawn to an unconstitutional pronouncement by the Acting National Chairman of our great party, Amb. Umar Iliya Damagum, purporting to cancel the 100th NEC meeting scheduled to hold on Monday, 30th June, 2025, and directing Senator Samuel Anyanwu to resume as National Secretary of the party.
“The BoT, in defence of the Constitution of the PDP, states categorically that these pronouncements by the Acting National Chairman are null, void and of no effect, being inconsistent and in gross violation of the express provisions of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017).”
Wabara added, “The NEC is the highest decision-making organ of the party, second only to the National Convention. By virtue of Section 31 (3) of the PDP Constitution, the resolution at the 99th NEC meeting held on Tuesday, 27th May, 2025, to hold its 100th meeting on Monday, 30th June, 2025, is binding on all organs and members of the PDP.”
He warned that no individual or organ of the party has the authority to override the NEC’s resolution.
“The decision of the National Working Committee directing the Deputy National Secretary to act as National Secretary in accordance with the extant powers of the NWC remains valid, having not been set aside by the NWC or NEC. The attempt by Amb. Damagum to overturn that decision is a gross abuse of office,” the statement said.
“The BoT, being the conscience of the party, cannot stand idly by and watch the party descend into chaos through acts of impunity, unilateralism, and disregard for constitutional procedures.”
The BoT insisted that: “The 100th NEC Meeting must proceed as scheduled on Monday, June 30, 2025. Members of NEC should disregard any contradictory statements regarding the meeting.
“Arc. Setonji Koshoedo remains Acting National Secretary pending a formal decision by the appropriate organ of the party. All members should uphold the supremacy of the PDP Constitution and resist attempts to destabilise the party.”
In a related development, the PDP National Ex-Officio Forum expressed disappointment in Damagum’s press release, describing it as a betrayal of the 99th NEC.
Their statement read in part, “The attention of the members of the PDP national ex-officio has been drawn to the press release by the Acting National Chairman, Ambassador Damagum, on the 25th of June in respect of the scheduled NEC meeting of June 30.
“We have also read the communique issued by members of the NWC in response to the chairman’s press release. It is our view that the Acting National Chairman’s press release is embarrassing to the members of NEC, especially to those who attended the 99th NEC meeting.”
The ex-officio members affirmed their support for the NWC majority and reiterated that NEC decisions are binding.
“The NEC derives its powers from Section 31, Paragraph (3), Page 68, 2017 (as amended). The Acting National Chairman presided over the 99th NEC meeting of May 27, which adjourned to June 30. That resolution is sacrosanct and cannot be reversed by any member or organ of the party except the National Convention,” they stated.
They further described Anyanwu as a destabilising figure within the party and backed his continued exclusion.
“The issue of Anyanwu has caused monumental damage and political disruption to our great party. The Supreme Court ruled it is an internal affair of the party. No individual or organ, other than NEC, can reinstate Anyanwu,” the statement added.
