A fresh power tussle has rocked the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as its Board of Trustees (BoT) has firmly rejected the reinstatement of Senator Samuel Anyanwu as National Secretary and condemned the cancellation of the party’s upcoming National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting.
The BoT, led by former Senate President Adolphus Wabara, described the decisions made by Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum as unconstitutional and in direct violation of the party’s constitution.
Anyanwu’s return followed a controversial meeting between the party’s leadership and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which reportedly endorsed his reinstatement. However, the move has deepened divisions within the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), with 11 of 19 members warning Damagum of the consequences of ignoring NEC’s earlier decision that Deputy National Secretary Setonji Koshoedo should remain in an acting capacity.
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State is said to be against Anyanwu’s return, in contrast to Bauchi State Governor and PDP Governors’ Forum Chair, Bala Mohammed, who supports the move.
Wabara, in a statement on behalf of the BoT, said:
“The pronouncements by the Acting National Chairman purporting to cancel the 100th NEC meeting and directing Senator Samuel Anyanwu to resume as National Secretary are null, void, and of no effect. They violate the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017).”
He reminded the party that the NEC’s resolution at its 99th meeting on May 27 to convene its 100th meeting on June 30 is binding and cannot be unilaterally overturned.
“It is not within the remit or authority of the Acting National Chairman to override a collective decision of the NEC,” Wabara added, describing such conduct as “an affront to the constitutional authority of the NEC.”
However, in a counter statement, two of the 11 NWC members Senator Bello Hayatu Gwarzo (National Vice Chairman, North West) and Ahmed Yayari (National Treasurer) distanced themselves from what they called an “anti-Damagum plot.” They also backed Anyanwu’s reinstatement, claiming it followed due process after consultations with INEC.
Gwarzo said:
“The decision to recall Senator Anyanwu was not made in a vacuum. It followed a series of engagements between the PDP and INEC, culminating in a resolution that mandated the Acting Chairman to announce the reinstatement.”
Meanwhile, National Youth Leader Timothy Osadolor dismissed the planned NEC meeting announcement by National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba as unserious, stating that it was done without the acting chairman’s clearance.
The party now faces deepening internal strife as factions square off over the leadership crisis, with the BoT calling for strict adherence to constitutional processes to avert further damage.
