The Board of Trustees (BoT) and Ex-Officio Forum of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have rejected recent actions taken by the party’s Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, insisting that the 100th National Executive Committee meeting scheduled for June 30 must go ahead as planned.
The BoT also reaffirmed the appointment of Setonji Koshoedo as Acting National Secretary, amid claims that Senator Samuel Anyanwu remains the substantive secretary.
In separate statements, BoT Chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara, and the Chairman and Secretary of the PDP National Ex-Officio Forum, Faboyede Clement and Comfort Yassan, respectively, described Damagum’s efforts to cancel the NEC meeting and reinstate Anyanwu as unconstitutional and contrary to the collective will of the party.
The PDP has faced persistent internal crises since losing power in 2015, including leadership tussles, defections, and unresolved congress issues.
As part of efforts to stabilise the party, Koshoedo was appointed Acting National Secretary. However, a committee chaired by Taraba State Governor, Kefas Agbu, recently disclosed that the Independent National Electoral Commission still recognises Senator Anyanwu as National Secretary.
Although the PDP had, at its 99th NEC meeting, fixed June 30 for its 100th NEC session—with Damagum notifying INEC accordingly—the electoral body rejected the letter, citing the absence of the joint signature of the party’s National Chairman and National Secretary as required by law.
On Sunday, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, stated that INEC’s role is limited to receiving notices and not regulating party activities. But in a swift response, Damagum distanced the party from Ologunagba’s remarks, describing them as personal and premature.
At a press conference on Wednesday, Damagum announced the cancellation of the June 30 NEC meeting, replacing it with a national caucus session, and declared Anyanwu reinstated as National Secretary. He claimed that his decisions were backed by a majority of party leaders.
However, 11 of the 19 National Working Committee members rejected both the cancellation and Anyanwu’s reinstatement, vowing to go ahead with the scheduled NEC meeting.
The PUNCH
