Security operatives, including officers of the Nigerian Police, have barred members of the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) Board of Trustees (BoT) from convening their 100th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.
According to eyewitnesses at the scene, security personnel stormed the NEC hall at Wadata Plaza, where the meeting was scheduled to take place, and ordered everyone to vacate the premises.
A senior officer at the scene was overheard instructing his colleagues: “Ensure no one is in the hall there. That is the instruction. I heard there is another hall upstairs. Make sure nobody is meeting there.”
As of the time of filing this report, some BoT members were seen quietly discussing the situation outside the party office.
Crisis Looms within PDP
This development is the latest in the ongoing internal crisis within the PDP, which worsened after the party’s 2023 presidential primaries. Party organs remain split into factions, with the most recent conflict revolving around who rightfully occupies the position of National Secretary.
Acting National Chairman Ambassador Umar Damagum and Deputy National Chairman (South) Taofeek Arapaja are reportedly leading rival camps within the National Working Committee (NWC). At the centre of the dispute is the return of Senator Samuel Anyanwu as National Secretary.
Sources say both factions spent the weekend finalising strategies regarding Anyanwu and the scheduled NEC meeting, with no resolution in sight.
The Damagum-led camp insists on reinstating Anyanwu and downgrading the NEC meeting to a caucus meeting, citing the advice of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as justification. The group enjoys the support of former Senate President Bukola Saraki, Hon. Kingsley Chinda, and Senator Ahmed Makarfi.
In contrast, the opposing camp — comprising BoT members, other NWC members, and some party leaders — insists the 100th NEC meeting must proceed as earlier scheduled by the 99th NEC two weeks ago. They argue that the 99th NEC had already ruled on Anyanwu’s position and the timeline of the 100th meeting.
While Anyanwu has dismissed the 99th NEC as merely a “gathering of stakeholders,” PDP National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, countered his claim, asserting that it was a legitimate NEC meeting.
The divisions are further reflected in the party’s state chapters. Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi supports the Damagum camp, while Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo backs the BoT faction. The split echoes past disagreements within the NWC, including the leadership tussle in Rivers State between camps aligned with FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
The crisis deepened after INEC flagged the PDP’s notification letter for the NEC meeting, which was signed solely by Damagum instead of being co-signed by the National Secretary. Ologunagba defended the process, stating the NEC had delegated Damagum to issue the letter, and since it wasn’t an elective meeting, INEC’s monitoring wasn’t required. However, Damagum rebuked Ologunagba for making public comments without authorisation — a claim 11 NWC members rejected.
In the meantime, the South East caucus continues to reject Anyanwu’s return, backing Hon. Sunday Ude-Okoye for the role. Amid the disagreement, the NWC appointed Deputy National Secretary Setonji Koshoedo to serve in acting capacity.
Interestingly, the notice announcing the NEC meeting scheduled for today at 2 p.m. was signed by Senator Anyanwu as National Secretary. The meeting invitation included statutory caucus members, BoT members, state chairmen, National Assembly caucus members, former governors and gubernatorial candidates, and ex-NWC officials.
A member of the Damagum camp who spoke anonymously said, “There will be a Peoples Democratic Party expanded caucus meeting tomorrow, and the national secretary of the party, Distinguished Senator Samuel Anyanwu, will be fully present to discharge his duties as the secretary of the party.”
Calls and messages to BoT Chairman Senator Adolphus Wabara, Deputy National Chairman Taofeek Arapaja, and Debo Ologunagba went unanswered.
Governor Mbah Reacts
Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah has voiced support for the BoT and the South East Zonal Executive Committee (ZEC), expressing frustration over the prolonged internal wrangling.
He said, “While I am still a member of the PDP, I am simply fed up with the shenanigans that have more or less made the party an endless circus.”
Speaking after a closed-door meeting on Sunday with Governor Seyi Makinde, Senator Wabara, and Chief Ali Odefa in Enugu, Mbah reaffirmed that the South East’s position on the National Secretary remains “sacrosanct.”
“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 South East – 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.”
“This has not been the case. So, there is no doubt where I stand on the matter,” he said.
Other chieftains present at the meeting include former national chairman Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, Senator Sam Egwu, Iyom Josephine Anenih, Senator Ben Obi, and Hon. Ude-Okoye.
A source from the pro-BoT camp confirmed the NEC would proceed, saying, “They can’t just overturn a decision of the NEC like that; it will set a wrong precedent, and that is why the NEC will hold as scheduled.”
NWC Reaffirms NEC Meeting
On Sunday, NWC members opposed to Damagum also convened and reaffirmed that the 100th NEC meeting will hold today as planned.
Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja told journalists, “For the avoidance of doubt, the National Working Committee (NWC) assures all Party members that the 100th NEC meeting will proceed as scheduled tomorrow, Monday, 30th June, 2025, at the NEC Hall of the Wadata Plaza, PDP National Secretariat, Abuja.
“The 100th NEC meeting will 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 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.”
Other NWC members who endorsed the resolution include Hon. (Arc) Setonji Koshoedo, Acting National Secretary; Sir Okechukwu Obiechina Daniel, National Auditor; Hon. Debo Ologunagba, National Publicity Secretary; Dr. Woyengikuro Daniel, National Financial Secretary; Hon. Mrs. Amina Darasimi D. Bryhm, National Woman Leader; High Chief Ali Odefa, National Vice Chairman (South East); Hon. Emmanuel Ogidi, Caretaker Chairman (South South); and Hon. Ajisafe Kamoru Toyese, National Vice Chairman (South West).
