By Olatunbosun Obafemi
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has reinstated Samuel Anyanwu as its National Secretary following a meeting with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday.
Acting National Chairman of the PDP, Umar Damagum, made the announcement during a press conference in Abuja. “Anyanwu is resuming as the national secretary,” he stated.
The party also suspended its planned National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting scheduled for June 30, opting instead for an expanded caucus meeting on the same date. Damagum explained that INEC had not been properly notified of the NEC meeting, necessitating the change.
“At the next caucus, we will make a decision leading to a proper NEC,” he added.
The press conference was attended by PDP leaders, including Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Bala Mohammed, and former Senate President, Bukola Saraki.
The reinstatement comes after INEC declined an invitation to the PDP’s proposed 100th NEC meeting. The commission cited the ongoing tussle over the secretaryship, which had led to conflicting signatures on party documents — a violation of INEC’s guidelines for political parties.
INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu reportedly told PDP leaders that the commission could not attend the meeting under such uncertain circumstances.
The decision to reinstate Anyanwu appears aimed at resolving the dispute and restoring internal order, ahead of further political engagements and compliance with electoral regulations.
Meanwhile, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party has dismissed Damagum’s declarations. It said his pronouncements were contrary to the resolution of the 99th NEC meeting, which scheduled the next NEC session for June 30 and referred all matters concerning the National Secretary’s office to that meeting.
“The pronouncements by the Acting National Chairman have no foundation as no organ of the Party (including the NWC), individual or group has the power to cancel, overrule, veto or vary the resolution of the National Executive Committee (NEC),” the statement read.
Citing Section 31 (3) of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017), the NWC emphasized that NEC is the highest decision-making organ of the party after the National Convention and that its resolutions are binding on all members and organs of the party.
