ABUJA, Nigeria – The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has officially reinstated Samuel Anyanwu as its National Secretary, following a meeting with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday, June 25, 2025.
The party also announced the suspension of its planned National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting scheduled for Monday, June 30, 2025, opting instead for an expanded caucus session.
The decision was made public by the Acting National Chairman of the PDP, Umar Damagum, during a press conference in Abuja attended by key party figures, including the Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum and Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, and former Senate President Bukola Saraki.
“Anyanwu is resuming as the national secretary,” Damagum declared.
“At the next caucus, we will make a decision leading to a proper NEC. Like INEC said, they don’t have our notice, so we will have an extended caucus meeting on June 30.”
The development follows a closed-door meeting between PDP leaders and INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.
INEC had earlier declined an invitation to attend what would have been the party’s 100th NEC meeting, citing concerns over discrepancies in signatures stemming from the unresolved tussle over the position of national secretary.
The leadership conflict dates back to 2023, when Samuel Anyanwu contested the Imo State governorship election under the PDP platform.
His candidacy prompted the party’s South-East zonal leadership to appoint Sunday Udeh-Okoye as his replacement.
Anyanwu, however, challenged his removal in court, obtaining injunctions to halt the decision.
While the Federal High Court initially upheld his claim, the Court of Appeal in December 2024 reversed the ruling, declaring that the judgement lacked merit.
Udeh-Okoye subsequently declared himself the PDP National Secretary.
Despite the appellate ruling, Anyanwu continued to assert his position as the rightful secretary, leading to a prolonged leadership ambiguity within the party’s national secretariat.
