ABUJA, Nigeria — In a move aimed at consolidating control amid an intensifying leadership crisis, the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has formally affirmed Senator Samuel Anyanwu as the party’s National Secretary.
The confirmation was announced on Monday, June 30, 2025, by Umar Damagum, the party’s acting national chairman, following the PDP’s 100th NEC meeting at its national headquarters in Abuja.
“We just rose from our 100th NEC meeting. It was a one-agenda meeting to discuss the outcome of our interaction with INEC as regards the national secretary,” Damagum told journalists.
“We all agreed that Senator Anyanwu will continue to act as national secretary.”
The meeting, though held under tight security and shadowed by internal discord, marks a significant turn in the prolonged battle for the party’s secretariat position, which has been claimed by three contenders: Anyanwu, Sunday Udeh-Okoye, and Setonji Koshoedo.
Earlier in the day, tension flared outside Wadata Plaza, the party’s headquarters, as armed security operatives barred members of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) from accessing the NEC hall, forcing them to relocate their scheduled pre-meeting to the Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja.
Some party staff were later ejected from the secretariat entirely, and journalists were asked to leave the premises.
Dalaba Street, which leads to the PDP national secretariat, was cordoned off.
Despite the turbulent start, Damagum said the NEC meeting was held peacefully.
“The beauty of the Peoples Democratic Party is that it is the only party in this country that knows the mechanism to solve its own problem, rancour-free,” he said.
The meeting was attended by high-ranking party leaders, including BoT Chairman Adolphus Wabara; PDP Governors’ Forum Chairman and Bauchi Governor Bala Mohammed; and governors Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa), Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau), and Douye Diri (Bayelsa).
Also present were former Senate President Bukola Saraki; Senate Minority Leader Abba Moro; Senator Seriake Dickson; members of the National Working Committee (NWC); state party chairmen; and other key stakeholders.
The NEC’s affirmation of Anyanwu comes days after a press conference by Deputy National Chairman (South), Taofeek Arapaja, who insisted the NEC would proceed as originally scheduled on Monday, June 30, 2025, and criticised moves to convert it into a special caucus meeting.
Citing Section 31(3) of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017), Arapaja argued that no officer of the party had the authority to alter an already convened NEC session.
His statement reflected the deep divide within the party’s leadership, especially among members of the NWC.
The BoT had earlier rejected Anyanwu’s reinstatement and accused Damagum of “gross abuse of office” for unilaterally announcing him as national secretary.
Eleven NWC members also disputed the decision and maintained that Anyanwu was not duly affirmed.
However, Damagum told reporters that Monday’s NEC was the product of “consultations with various organs of the party” and dismissed claims of division.
The acting national chairman announced that the next NEC meeting will take place on July 23, 2025, where discussions on the party’s national convention are expected to continue.
He also confirmed that he and Anyanwu will issue a joint communication to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) regarding the outcome of the meeting and the schedule for the next round of internal decisions.
Despite lingering tensions, Damagum called on party members to cease “demarketing” the PDP and instead use internal channels to resolve disputes.
