Power tussle deepens in PDP as factions schedule rival meetings over secretary position

The internal crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has taken a dramatic turn as two opposing factions within the party plan to hold separate meetings today at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja over the lingering dispute surrounding the National Secretary position.

Last week, Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, postponed the highly anticipated National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting originally slated for today. The decision came after a leadership delegation met with INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, over issues affecting the party’s internal structure.

Despite the postponement, Damagum and Senator Samuel Anyanwu, whose controversial reinstatement as National Secretary has split the party, jointly signed an invitation summoning stakeholders to a stakeholders’ meeting today.

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On the other hand, backed by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, Deputy National Chairman (South) Taofeek Arapaja denounced the recognition of Anyanwu and said, alongside ten other National Working Committee (NWC) members, that the NEC meeting could not be unilaterally shifted by Damagum.

He said the 100th NEC meeting was fixed by the 99th NEC and that it is only the NEC that can vary its decision.

Yesterday, he announced that the NEC meeting will be held today, also at the National Secretariat.

The group last night got the backing of Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah, who reiterated that the return of Anyanwu could push the Southeast Caucus, which is backing Sunday Ude-Okoye for the position, out of the party.

Some of the key leaders of the party supporting Damagum are: PDP Governors’ Forum Chair Bala Mohammed (Bauchi); Chairman of the party’s Strategy/Reconciliation Committee Senator Bukola Saraki; Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike and Secretary of the Board of Trustees (BoT), Senator Ahmed Makarfi.

On the other group, apart from Arapaja, Makinde and Mbah, there are BoT chairman Senator Adolphus Wabara, BoT member Chief Olabode George and some NWC members, including Deputy National Secretary Setonji Koshoedo and publicity secretary Debo Ologunagba.

Anyanwu issued a notice for an expanded National Caucus Meeting, outlining the list of chieftains expected.

According to the notice, the caucus meeting would kick off at 2pm.

However, Arapaja said in a statement that only the NEC meeting will take place at the same venue at 9am.

According to the PDP constitution, the resolution of the National Caucus is advisory, but the NEC is the highest decision-making body, after the National Convention, with powers to dissolve the National Working Committee (NWC) headed by Damagum.

Expected at the meeting are statutory members of the National Caucus, Deputy National Officers, BoT members, all state chairmen, all members of the National Assembly Caucus, former NWC members, National Ex-Officio Members, former governors, and immediate-past governorship candidates.

However, Arapaja, who said the NEC meeting would start at 9 am, stressed that it was the resolution of the last meeting.

He said: “We further update all members of the PDP and the general public on the activities of the party, especially with regard to the 100th meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) statutorily scheduled for tomorrow (today), Monday, 30th June, 2025 and the National Convention scheduled for Thursday 28th to Saturday, 30th August 2025.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the National Working Committee (NWC) assures all party members that the 100th NEC meeting will proceed as scheduled on Monday, 30th June 2025 at the NEC Hall of the Wadata Plaza, PDP National Secretariat, Abuja.

“The 100th NEC meeting will, among other things, receive updates on the activities of the Zoning Committee and the National Convention Organising Committee.

“As you are aware, the 100th meeting was unanimously scheduled by NEC at its 99th meeting held on Tuesday, 27th May, 2025.

“By virtue of Section 31(3) of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017) the Monday, 30th June 2025 date for the 100th NEC meeting is binding on all organs and members, and as such no organ, group or officer of the party has the power to alter, change, vary, veto or convert the already convened NEC meeting.

“Contrary to a purported notice being circulated in the social media suggesting that the 100th NEC meeting has been converted to a Special Expanded National Caucus meeting, the NWC states in clear terms that the said notice did not emanate from the PDP and should be disregarded.

“The NWC emphasises that there is no provision whatsoever for an ‘Expanded National Caucus’ in the constitution of the PDP or any guideline of the party.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Section 30 of the Constitution of the PDP is unambiguous in providing for a National Caucus for the party with its composition, functions, and meetings clearly spelt out, leaving no room for any form of expansion.

“The suggestion, proposal or announcement for a ‘Special Expanded National Caucus meeting’ is therefore unconstitutional and cannot take any decision for the PDP, being not a recognised organ or body in the PDP.”

Mbah okays today’s NEC meeting

Governor Mbah endorsed the position of the Southeast Zonal Executive Committee, Board of Trustees (BoT) and a section of the divided NWC on the protracted leadership crisis.

He also re-echoed the threat by the Southeast Caucus to review its relationship with the party if Udeh-Okoye is not allowed to take over from Senator Anyanwu as National Secretary.

Mbah, who supported those pushing for the NEC meeting today, said he is “simply fed up with the shenanigans that have more or less made the party an endless circus.”

The governor spoke with reporters on the festering crisis in Enugu, the state capital, after a meeting with Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, BoT Chairman Senator Adolphus Wabara, and National Vice Chairman (Southeast) Chief Ali Odefa.

The positions of the Southeast Caucus, BoT and a section of the NWC are that the Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Setonji Koshoedo, should act as Secretary, and the NEC meeting should be held today in Abuja.

The positions tally with that of the PDP Governors’ Forum, led by Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed.

But after a meeting with INEC last week, Damagum directed Anyanwu to return to the office as Secretary, in accordance with the outcome of the parley.

Mbah said: “For the record, just as I stated during my interactive session with fellows and members of the Nigerian Guild of Editors in Enugu at the weekend, while I am still a member of the PDP, the Southeast – and that includes me – reserves the right to review our continued membership of the party if the party is unwilling to put its house in order.

“That was invariably the position adopted during our last Southeast Zonal meeting held here in Enugu.

“During that meeting, the caucus noted that the party should not disregard the zone’s stand regarding the national secretary position.

“To all intents and purposes, this has obviously not been the case. So, there is no doubt as to where I stand on the matter.

“The position of the Southeast with respect to the national secretaryship of the party as issued in that communique is sacrosanct,” he stated.

Other PDP chieftains at the meeting included a former National Chairman and BOT member, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo; Senator Sam Egwu, Iyom Josephine Anenih, Senator Ben Obi, and Udeh-Okoye.

More defections likely, says Saraki

Saraki, who spoke on television, warned that more chieftains may leave the party if the crisis is not resolved.

He said: “PDP would likely see one or two more defections, and we should prepare ourselves for that. There is a possibility.

“We haven’t seen the worst of the defections for PDP. We would probably see maybe one or two governors who will defect, and we might see some senators who will defect.

“For some of us, this happening early in PDP is an advantage. We are lucky that this is not happening, let’s say late 2026. We would not even have had time to recover and regroup.

“We have just under two years to the general election, and we are lucky to have that. I think, with a lot of commitment and understanding, it is not a lost cause.

“A party of over 26 years of history, that has been around, the largest party, we will definitely have low times like this.”

PDP has lost two governors and their supporters – Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta) and Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom) – to the APC.

Saraki described the unresolved dispute as the major obstacle preventing the PDP from convening a proper NEC meeting and organising a credible national convention.

Saraki confirmed that INEC recognises Anyanwu as the legitimate PDP secretary, based on a Supreme Court judgment delivered on March 21, 2025.

He noted that a recent meeting between PDP leaders and INEC helped clarify the commission’s position.

Saraki called for the emergence of a younger, forward-looking leadership at the next party convention.

He added: “This is not just about resolving today’s issues. It’s about building for the future.

“The next convention must not be business as usual. We must bring in new, younger faces who represent the future of this party.

“If PDP fails, Nigeria edges closer to a one-party state. And that would be a disaster for democracy.”

(Nation)