There is heightened tension within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as rival factions prepare to hold separate meetings today in Abuja.
The bone of contention remains the disputed position of National Secretary and whether the party’s 100th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting will proceed as scheduled.
Two camps—one aligned with Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, and the other with Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike—have emerged in opposition over the direction of the party and the fate of Senator Samuel Anyanwu, whose return as National Secretary is being contested.
At the centre of the chaos is a decision taken at the 99th NEC meeting in May, which scheduled the 100th NEC for June 30.
However, last week, Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum announced a postponement of the NEC meeting and reinstated Anyanwu as National Secretary.
This move sparked immediate resistance from 11 of 18 National Working Committee (NWC) members, who declared Damagum’s announcement invalid and reaffirmed their support for Setonji Koshoedo as Acting National Secretary.
The Makinde camp, supported by governors Peter Mbah (Enugu), Douye Diri (Bayelsa), Ademola Adeleke (Osun), and Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), among others, is pushing forward with the NEC as originally planned. This group insists the party must stick to its resolutions to maintain order and credibility.
On the opposing side, the Wike camp—including Governors Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau), Kefas Agbu (Taraba), Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), and Adamawa’s Ahmadu Fintiri—argues that the meeting should be converted into a special expanded National Caucus session to address broader issues within the party before any NEC gathering.
According to reports, preparations for the NEC have already been finalised by the Makinde-aligned faction. Meeting invitations have been sent out, accreditation documents printed, and logistics arranged. They argue that the NEC, being the second-highest decision-making body after the National Convention, holds constitutional authority that cannot be overridden by any individual or group.
Meanwhile, Damagum and his allies contend that due process has not been followed. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had previously declined to recognise communication from the party leadership on the NEC because it lacked the co-signature of both the National Chairman and National Secretary, as required by the PDP constitution. INEC also confirmed that Anyanwu is still officially recognised in its records.
This dispute has created a polarised leadership, with both factions claiming legitimacy. One meeting was held Sunday afternoon at Wadata Plaza, led by Damagum and attended by Anyanwu, Organising Secretary Umar Bature, and Legal Adviser Kamaldeen Ajibade, where they reaffirmed support for the National Caucus meeting. Later in the evening, 11 other NWC members, including Deputy Chairman (South) Taofeek Arapaja, Vice Chairman (South East) Ali Odefa, and National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba, declared that the NEC would proceed today with Koshoedo as Acting Secretary.
According to party insiders, the Board of Trustees (BoT) is also meeting today to address the growing turmoil. Several senior figures have voiced frustration with the crisis, noting that the party’s ability to present itself as a viable opposition ahead of the 2027 elections is being seriously undermined.
Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu expressed concern about the party’s current trajectory, stating his support for the NEC and the South East Zonal Executive Committee’s (ZEC) position. He warned that if the party fails to honour the South East’s demands regarding the secretaryship, members from the zone might reconsider their allegiance to the PDP.
Also weighing in, former PDP BoT Chairman Bode George called for unity and urged members to use the meeting—regardless of what it’s called—as a forum for frank discussion. “Whether it’s NEC or National Caucus, let’s meet and resolve our issues,” he said.
Former National Secretary Ibrahim Tsauri stressed that the NEC’s authority must be respected, pointing out that the resolution from the May meeting remains binding unless a subsequent NEC decides otherwise. He acknowledged the party’s decision to hold an expanded stakeholder session but warned that such a body is not a constitutional organ of the party.
Deputy National Chairman Arapaja addressed a press conference on Sunday night to reaffirm that the NEC meeting will hold today, in line with Section 31(3) of the PDP Constitution. He warned that no other group or organ had the authority to postpone or replace the meeting.
He also rejected notices circulating online about a supposed expanded caucus meeting, declaring them unauthorised. Arapaja clarified that the PDP Constitution makes no provision for an “Expanded National Caucus,” and insisted that such a body cannot make decisions on behalf of the party.
Meanwhile, six deputy national officers have expressed support for Anyanwu’s reinstatement and endorsed Damagum’s call for an expanded National Caucus. These include Deputy Youth Leader Timothy Osadolor and Deputy Publicity Secretary Ibrahim Abdullahi, among others.
In response, the 11-member NWC group opposing Anyanwu issued a statement calling Damagum’s move misleading and in violation of NEC resolutions. They asserted that the NEC must go ahead today and warned against attempts to derail party processes.
Former Publicity Secretary Kola Ologbondiyan backed this position, arguing that a resolution taken at NEC must be honoured before any further decisions can be made. “Even in a club, members follow their own agreements. Not to talk of a political party,” he said.
Adding to the drama, Anyanwu circulated a formal invitation for the expanded National Caucus meeting, scheduled for 2 p.m. today at Wadata Plaza. He listed invited attendees including statutory members of the National Caucus, BoT members, state chairmen, and others. The invitation appeared to directly counter Arapaja’s earlier statement dismissing such a meeting as unconstitutional.
Former National Vice Chairman (South West), Eddy Olafeso, took a neutral stance, stating that regardless of the meeting type, all sides should attend and focus on resolving the crisis rather than deepening divisions.
