In a bid to avert the collapse of its upcoming 100th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will today (Wednesday) engage in high-level discussions with the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu.
Acting National Chairman of the party, Umar Damagum, governors elected on the PDP platform, and other critical stakeholders are expected at the meeting aimed at resolving disputes threatening the NEC session scheduled for June 30.
The former ruling party, which lost the presidency in 2015, has since been plagued by internal strife ranging from leadership tussles, legal setbacks, and regional factionalism. Recent controversies include the suspension of key NEC meetings, the South-South and South-East zonal crises, and especially the wrangling over the National Secretary position.
Central to the tension is the ongoing dispute between Senator Samuel Anyanwu and Setonji Koshoedo. While Anyanwu claims to still hold the position of National Secretary after contesting and losing the 2023 Imo State governorship race, the party recently appointed Koshoedo, the Deputy National Secretary, in acting capacity, citing a Supreme Court decision which reaffirms that such party matters are internal.
However, in a letter dated June 13 and obtained on Tuesday, INEC questioned the legitimacy of the PDP’s June 30 NEC notification, stating it failed to meet the requirements of the 2022 Guidelines for Political Parties. INEC insists that such a notice must be jointly signed by both the National Chairman and the National Secretary.
The electoral umpire’s rejection letter, signed by Acting Secretary Mathru Aminu, has raised alarms within the PDP ahead of its most significant meeting this year. The Commission’s insistence on compliance comes at a time the party is striving to unify its ranks ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Reacting to the development, former PDP Deputy National Chairman (South), Chief Bode George, criticized INEC’s intervention, referencing the Supreme Court ruling which recognized the choice of party secretaries as internal affairs.
“INEC cannot say it recognises Anyanwu as the PDP National Secretary. The Supreme Court has spoken, and people should be careful. INEC should tread softly,” George warned.
Meanwhile, the PDP National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature, proposed that the party allow Anyanwu to sign the NEC notice in the interim to avoid further crisis.
A group of PDP stakeholders also issued a statement on Tuesday, urging party leaders to preserve unity by allowing Senator Anyanwu complete his tenure, set to expire in December 2025. The group, led by Aminu Das Sadiq, warned that premature removal or internal manipulations could destabilize the party.
The outcome of today’s meeting with INEC will be crucial to determining whether the June 30 NEC meeting can proceed, or whether the PDP will once again postpone the session due to internal disarray.
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