ABUJA, Nigeria — The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has suspended four senior national officers, deepening internal tensions as the opposition party grapples with a court-ordered halt to its planned national convention and escalating factional disputes.
At an emergency meeting in Abuja on Saturday, November 1, 2025, the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) suspended National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu, National Legal Adviser Kamaldeen Ajibade, Deputy Legal Adviser Okechukwu Osuoha, and National Organising Secretary Umaru Bature for an initial one-month period pending disciplinary action.
Announcing the decision, National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba said the suspended officials have been referred to a disciplinary committee.
“During this period of the suspension, they cease to function in their respective capacities,” Ologunagba told journalists.
Setonji Koshoedo, the deputy national secretary, will now serve in an acting capacity, while the deputy legal adviser will step in for Ajibade.
The suspensions come one day after a federal high court stopped the PDP from holding its national convention scheduled for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan.
Justice James Omotosho ruled that the PDP failed to conduct valid state congresses in line with the constitution, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) guidelines and its own internal rules.
He barred INEC from recognising any outcome from the planned gathering until compliance is achieved.
“The party must do the needful before going ahead with the election,” Omotosho held, warning that the convention process had been “jeopardised” by procedural breaches.
The legal battle exposed rifts within the PDP, including a dramatic courtroom confrontation on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, when Ajibade and Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum clashed over who had authority to appoint counsel to represent the party.
Ajibade insisted only his office could legally retain counsel, while Damagum submitted a separate authorisation letter appointing Senior Advocate of Nigeria Chris Uche.
Their disagreement forced the judge to pause proceedings, directing them to “put their house in order.”
Political fault-lines have widened between allies of Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike and the rest of the party leadership.
Recently, Anyanwu, seen as aligned with Wike, accused party officials of forging his signature on official correspondence to INEC about the convention — a claim the NWC, Board of Trustees, and several senior members strongly denied.
Party insiders say the suspensions reflect efforts by the NWC to stabilise the organisation and assert control ahead of a crucial leadership reshuffle.
The PDP has vowed to appeal the court decision, but the ruling and internal disciplinary measures have thrown the party’s plans into uncertainty.
The emergency suspensions underscore the struggle for cohesion in a party still attempting to rebound after the 2023 general elections and subsequent leadership battles.
