11 PDP NWC members reject Anyanwu’s reinstatement as national secretary

The National Working Committee (NWC) of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is divided over the reinstatement of Samuel Anyanwu as the party’s national secretary.

Some PDP NWC members also condemned the cancellation of the party’s 100th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting.

The party’s acting national chairman, Umar Damagum, at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, announced the reinstatement of Anyanwu, following the meeting of the PDP leaders with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Damagum also disclosed that the PDP NEC meeting, earlier scheduled for June 30, had been suspended.

However, a faction of the NWC, in a statement issued on Wednesday night, described Damagum’s pronouncements as null and void.

The statement jointly signed by 11 NWC members said the NEC meeting was neither cancelled nor postponed, adding that Anyanwu was not reinstated.

The NWC members said asking Anyanwu to resume as the PDP national secretary was contrary to the resolution of the 99th NEC meeting which referred all matters relating to the office to the 100th NEC meeting.

They stated: “The pronouncements by the acting national chairman have no foundation as no organ of the party (including the NWC), individual or group has the power to cancel, overrule, veto or vary the resolution of the NEC under the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017).

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“For the avoidance of doubt, 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 of the NEC to hold its 100th meeting on Monday, June 30 is binding on all organs, officers, chapters and members of the party and no organ, group or individual can vary or veto this resolution of NEC.

“Furthermore, the claim by Damagum that Anyanwu has been asked to resume office as the National Secretary of the party is therefore misleading, being contrary to the resolution of NEC

“In the light of the foregoing, the 100th NEC meeting, as scheduled for Monday, June, 30, has not been cancelled or postponed.”

The statement was jointly signed by the PDP Deputy National Chairman (South), Taofeek Arapaja; acting National Secretary, Setonji Koshoedo; and the National Treasurer, Ahmed Mohammed.

Other signatories to the statement were the National Auditor, Okechukwu Daniel; National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba; National Financial Secretary, Woyengikuro Daniel; and the National Vice Chairman (South-East), Ali Odefa.

The Caretaker Committee Chairman (South-South), Emmanuel Ogidi; National Woman Leader, Amina Darasimi; Hayatu Gwarzo; and the National Vice Chairman (South-West), Ajisafe Toyese were also part of those who signed the statement.

The Star