ABUJA, Nigeria — The Board of Trustees (BoT) of Nigeria’s main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has rejected the reinstatement of Senator Samuel Anyanwu as national secretary, calling it an unconstitutional move by the party’s acting chairman, Umar Damagum.
The dispute erupted after Damagum announced on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, that Anyanwu, an ally of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike, would resume office as national secretary.
He also declared the cancellation of a scheduled National Executive Council (NEC) meeting set for Monday, June 30, 2025.
However, in a strongly worded statement on Thursday, June 26, 2025, BoT Chairman Adolphus Wabara dismissed Damagum’s actions as a “gross abuse of office” and insisted that the NEC meeting must proceed as planned.
Wabara argued that Damagum’s unilateral decisions violated the PDP’s constitution, particularly since the NEC—the party’s highest decision-making body—had already fixed the meeting during its last session on Thursday, May 27, 2025.
“It is not within the remit or authority of the acting national chairman to override a collective decision of the NEC,” Wabara stated.
“Such conduct amounts to an affront to the constitutional authority of NEC and the collective will of our party.”
The BoT also challenged Anyanwu’s reinstatement, asserting that Setonji Koshoedo remains the acting national secretary until a formal decision is made by the appropriate party organ.
The PDP has been embroiled in a leadership tussle involving three figures—Anyanwu, Sunday Udeh-Okoye, and Koshoedo—each claiming legitimacy as national secretary.
Damagum’s announcement followed a meeting between PDP governors, members of the National Working Committee (NWC), and officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
However, 11 NWC members later issued a counter-statement denying Anyanwu’s reinstatement and affirming the 30 June NEC meeting.
The BoT accused Damagum of fostering instability, warning that his actions could push the party into disarray.
“The Board of Trustees, being the conscience of the Party, cannot stand idly by and watch the Party descend into chaos through acts of impunity, unilateralism, and disregard for constitutional procedures,” Wabara said.
The BoT directed all party members to disregard Damagum’s cancellation of the NEC meeting and prepare for the gathering as originally scheduled.
