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  • By-elections: PDP begins sale of nomination forms Thursday

    By-elections: PDP begins sale of nomination forms Thursday

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has announced that it will begin the sale of expression of interest and nomination forms today for outstanding bye-elections in 12 states.

    In a statement yesterday in Abuja by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the party said its National Working Committee (NWC) had approved the timetable and schedule of activities for the bye-elections.

    Ologunagba said under the approved timetable, the sale of forms would end on July 10, while the submission of all forms would be on July 11.

    READ ALSO; ROLL CALL: Atiku, El-Rufai, Malami, Tambuwal, others attend ADC coalition unveiling

    He urged eligible and interested party members to obtain and return their completed forms at the PDP National Secretariat at Wadata Plaza in Wuse Zone 5, Abuja.

    “The NWC assures all party leaders, critical stakeholders, and teeming members of the PDP of a transparent and credible nomination as we march to victory in the by-elections,” Ologunagba said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has slated August 16 for the conduct of outstanding bye-elections in 12 states.

    The elections will be held in Anambra South Senatorial District and Onitsha North State Constituency in Anambra State; Edo Central Senatorial District and Ovia North East/South West Federal Constituency in Edo State.

    Others are: Batura/Garki Federal Constituency in Jigawa State; Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency and Zaria/ Kawasaki and Basawa State Constituency in Kaduna State; Shanono/Bagwai State Constituency in Kano State; and Okura II State Constituency in Kogi State.

    Others are: Munya State Constituency, Niger State; Ikenne/Shagamu/Remo/North Federal Constituency, Ogun State; Ibadan North Federal Constituency in Oyo State; Karim Lamido I State Constituency, Taraba State, and Kaura Namoda South State Constituency in Zamfara State.

  • David Mark quits PDP after 27 years, joins coalition

    David Mark quits PDP after 27 years, joins coalition

    Former Senate President David Mark has officially resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), citing persistent internal divisions, leadership crises, and irreconcilable differences that have reduced the party to a shadow of its former self.

    In a letter dated June 27 and addressed to the PDP Chairman in his Otukpo Ward, Benue State, Mark lamented the state of the party, which he helped found in 1998, and announced his departure after nearly three decades of loyal membership.

    “I bring warm greetings to you and members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Otukpo Ward 1, and by extension, to the entire Benue State and Nigeria. I write to formally inform you of my decision to resign my membership of the party with immediate effect,” Mark wrote.

    He recalled his commitment during the PDP’s most challenging periods:

    “You may recall that over the years, I have remained firm and deeply committed to the ideals of the PDP. 

    “Even when nearly all stakeholders departed the party following our loss in the 2015 presidential election, I pledged to remain the last man standing.

    “I have worked steadfastly to rebuild, reconcile, and reposition the party, efforts which, without sounding immodest, helped restore the PDP to national relevance and made it once again a party of choice for many Nigerians.”

    Read Also: 2027: Atiku, David Mark, Lamido woo PDP members to break away

    However he said recent developments within the PDP had forced him to reconsider, “Recent events marked by deepening divisions, persistent leadership crisis, and irreconcilable differences have reduced the party to a shadow of its former self, subjecting it to public ridicule.”

    He added: ““After wide consultations with my family, friends, and political associates, I have resolved to join the National Coalition of Political Opposition Movement in Nigeria, as part of the collective effort to rescue our nation and preserve our hard-earned democracy.”

    Mark served in the Senate for 16 years, representing Benue South from 1999 to 2019, and was Senate President from 2007 to 2015. His resignation marks his first-ever defection from the PDP.

    He joins opposition figures including Atiku Abubakar, Aminu Tambuwal, Sule Lamido, Liyel Imoke, and Babangida Aliyu in what appears to be a coordinated political front to challenge the Bola Tinubu presidency in 2027.

  • 2027: Atiku, David Mark, Lamido woo PDP members to break away

    2027: Atiku, David Mark, Lamido woo PDP members to break away

    Former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, former Senate President David Mark and others have commenced a grand plot towards wooing members of the PDP to join the anti-Tinubu coalition towards winning the 2027 general elections.

    “The PDP, which is organic with the discipline, capacity, and history to lead and save Nigeria, is now a shadow of its old self,” they stated in a communiqué  at the end of their four-hour closed door meeting at Transcorp-Hilton hotel in Abuja on Tuesday.

    The two highly visible PDP personalities were joined by other PDP leaders including the Chairman of the PDP Disciplinary Committee, Chief Tom Ikimi, who recommended the expulsion of PDP National Secretary over alleged ‘anti-party activities contrary to the provisions of Article 58 (1)(f) of the PDP Constitution’ in March this year.

    Their call on members of the PDP to desert a sinking ship is coming barely twenty-four hours after the Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senator Bala Mohammed drew the ovation of PDP leaders at the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting when he spoke emphatically against plots aimed at drawing PDP into a political coalition.

    In their communiqué, the coalition forces described themselves as ‘Concerned Leaders of the PDP’ roundly criticized the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and emphasized that PDP is too weak and incapacitated to challenge APC in 2027.

    “The meeting encourages all well-meaning PDP members and other patriotic Nigerians to join the coalition,” they stated.

    According to the coalition which is yet to confirm or deny speculations that they are headed for the ADC, their motivation is solely for the cause of rescuing Nigeria.

    “The meeting of concerned leaders of our great Party PDP was called to discuss the disturbing condition the Party has been sunk into; since our loss in the last presidential election and the exit of Dr. Iyorchia Ayu as National Chairman, our dear Party has never been the same again.

    Read Also: Atiku, Mark hold closed-door meeting with PDP leaders

    “Vested interests from within and the irresponsible actions of the APC led federal government which has been using state institutions to stifle and destroy the democracy knows no bounds!

    “The inability of PDP leadership to lead the party by its constitution, rules and regulations led it into a chaotic and undisciplined party!

    “The vision of the founding fathers for which the party was established and the role it played in restoring Nigeria as stable and united country and key player on the regional, continental, and global stage has been washed away just as our roles as the leader of the black race is now overtaken by smaller and less endowed countries.

    “Painfully, Nigeria is now a diminished country and an embarrassment on the world stage!” they asserted.

    Pointing out their deliberation was focused on issues of democracy, national unity, national security, economy, corruption, governance, and other concerns plaguing our country, they followed the now traditional pattern of the PDP by blaming the APC Federal Government for all the country’s past and present challenges.

    “Arising from the above, the meeting hereby resolved that the APC government, which came into being on the false and evil propaganda, to save Nigeria from PDP is now a disaster to our nation and therefore must be voted out of power.

    “All indices of development that support the comfort and quality of lives of the citizens have collapsed, and life is now hell in Nigeria; the heat wave unleashed by the APC Federal government through threats, blackmail and patronage has forced elected officers in government to abandon the PDP.

    “The meeting here now decides to encourage all well-meaning PDP members and other patriotic Nigerians to join the coalition.

    “All coalition partners must be united on the issues of national unity, democracy, national security, national economy, and the political will to stamp out corruption embedded in our institutions.

    “The coalition partners are to work out the modalities of winning all elections taking into consideration, local and national peculiarities,” they stated.

    Lately, both Atiku and Mark have not been attending public events of the PDP in recent times and there is increasing speculation that they are both involved with two political parties – the ADA and ADC – which the anti-Tinubu coalition intends to use as its political platform for the 2027 election.

    Those in attendance at the meeting include former PDP National Chairman,  Prince Uche Secondus; former Governors Sule Lamido (Jigawa); Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto); Liyel Imoke (Cross River); Babangida Aliyu (Niger); Gabriel Suswam (Benue) and Sam Egwu (Ebonyi).

     Other PDP figures in attendance include Senator Ben Obi; former PDP National Women Leader Josephine Annenih; former National Organising Secretary Senator Austin Akobundu; ex-National Publicity Secretary Kola Ologbondiyan and former National Youth Leader Abdullahi Maibasira.

    When contacted for a reaction to the development, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Mr, Debo Ologunagba chose to keep mum. 

    “If we could read the secret history of our enemies, we should find in each man’s life, sorrow and suffering enough to disarm all hostility.”

    • Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (27 February 1807 – 24 March 1882)
  • Atiku, Mark hold closed-door meeting with PDP leaders

    Atiku, Mark hold closed-door meeting with PDP leaders

    Former Vice President and 2023 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and former Senate President Senator David Mark on Tuesday held a closed-door meeting with select PDP leaders in Abuja.

    The high-level meeting, which began around 2 p.m., took place at the Borno/Anambra/Cross River Hall of the Transcorp Hilton Hotel.

    Although the agenda was not made public, the gathering has sparked fresh speculation over political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections.

    Sources said that Atiku and Mark may be involved in discussions concerning two alternative political platforms, the African Democratic Alliance (ADA) and African Democratic Congress (ADC), reportedly being considered by an anti-Tinubu coalition for 2027.

    Read Also: 2027: No discussion on joint ticket with Atiku, says Obi

    Prominent PDP figures present at the meeting include former PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus; former Governors Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), Liyel Imoke (Cross River), Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Gabriel Suswam (Benue), and Sam Egwu (Ebonyi).

    Others in attendance were Senator Ben Obi, former PDP National Women Leader Josephine Anenih, former National Organising Secretary Senator Austin Akobundu, ex-National Publicity Secretary Kola Ologbondiyan, and former National Youth Leader Abdullahi Maibasira.

    Both Atiku and Mark have maintained a strong presence at recent PDP functions, further fueling talks of a strategic political move as 2027 approaches.

  • Police deny sealing PDP Secretariat 

    Police deny sealing PDP Secretariat 

    The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command on Monday denied reports making rounds it sealed the National Secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Wuse Zone 5.

    According to a statement by the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, police officers were only deployed to the venue to maintain law and order and ensure public safety in line with constitutional mandate. 

    Adeh said: “The FCT Police Command is aware of the news making rounds alleging that Police sealed off the PDP Secretariat in Wuse Zone 5, Abuja.

    Read Also: JUST IN: Police rescue 13 kidnapped Benue passengers

    “The Command wishes to categorically state that this information is false, misleading, and does not reflect the true situation on ground.

    “Police officers were only deployed to the venue to maintain law and order and ensure public safety in line with their constitutional mandate. At no time was the Secretariat sealed off by the Police.

    “The Commissioner of Police, FCT,  urges media outlets to verify information through the office of the Command police public relations officer before disseminating”.

  • PDP factions set for showdown at national secretariat

    PDP factions set for showdown at national secretariat

    • Different groups fix meetings for Wadata Plaza

    Leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in two broad factions over the contentious national secretary office have fixed two meetings at the national secretariat today.

    National Chairman Umar Damagum, who last week announced the postponement of today’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting following the party leaders’ meeting with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, yesterday said a meeting of stakeholders will instead be held today.

    Having announced the recognition of Senator Samuel Anyanwu, both of them signed the invitation for today’s meeting.

    On the other hand, backed by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, Deputy National Chairman (South) Taofeek Arapaja denounced the recognition of Anyanwu and said, alongside ten other National Working Committee (NWC) members, that the NEC meeting could not be unilaterally shifted by Damagum.

    He said the 100th NEC meeting was fixed by the 99th NEC and that it is only the NEC that can vary its decision.

    Yesterday, he announced that the NEC meeting will be held today, also at the National Secretariat.

    The group last night got the backing of Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah, who reiterated that the return of Anyanwu could push the Southeast Caucus, which is backing Sunday Ude-Okoye for the position, out of the party.

    Some of the key leaders of the party supporting Damagum are: PDP Governors’ Forum Chair Bala Mohammed (Bauchi); Chairman of the party’s Strategy/Reconciliation Committee Senator Bukola Saraki; Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike and Secretary of the Board of Trustees (BoT), Senator Ahmed Makarfi.

    On the other group, apart from Arapaja, Makinde and Mbah, there are BoT chairman Senator Adolphus Wabara, BoT member Chief Olabode George and some NWC members, including Deputy National Secretary Setonji Koshoedo and publicity secretary Debo Ologunagba.

    Anyanwu issued a notice for an expanded National Caucus Meeting, outlining the list of chieftains expected.

    According to the notice, the caucus meeting would kick off at 2pm.

    However, Arapaja said in a statement that only the NEC meeting will take place at the same venue at 9am.

    According to the PDP constitution, the resolution of the National Caucus is advisory, but the NEC is the highest decision-making body, after the National Convention, with powers to dissolve the National Working Committee (NWC) headed by Damagum.

    Expected at the meeting are statutory members of the National Caucus, Deputy National Officers, BoT members, all state chairmen, all members of the National Assembly Caucus, former NWC members, National Ex-Officio Members, former governors, and immediate-past governorship candidates.

    Read Also: Don’t allow saboteur to destabilise Reps, PDP group tells Abbas

    However, Arapaja, who said the NEC meeting would start at 9 am, stressed that it was the resolution of the last meeting.

    He said: “We further update all members of the PDP and the general public on the activities of the party, especially with regard to the 100th meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) statutorily scheduled for tomorrow (today), Monday, 30th June, 2025 and the National Convention scheduled for Thursday 28th to Saturday, 30th August 2025.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, the National Working Committee (NWC) assures all party members that the 100th NEC meeting will proceed as scheduled on Monday, 30th June 2025 at the NEC Hall of the Wadata Plaza, PDP National Secretariat, Abuja.

    “The 100th NEC meeting will, among other things, receive updates on the activities of the Zoning Committee and the National Convention Organising Committee.

    “As you are aware, the 100th meeting was unanimously scheduled by NEC at its 99th meeting held on Tuesday, 27th May, 2025.

    “By virtue of Section 31(3) of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017) the Monday, 30th June 2025 date for the 100th NEC meeting is binding on all organs and members, and as such no organ, group or officer of the party has the power to alter, change, vary, veto or convert the already convened NEC meeting.

    “Contrary to a purported notice being circulated in the social media suggesting that the 100th NEC meeting has been converted to a Special Expanded National Caucus meeting, the NWC states in clear terms that the said notice did not emanate from the PDP and should be disregarded.

    “The NWC emphasises that there is no provision whatsoever for an ‘Expanded National Caucus’ in the constitution of the PDP or any guideline of the party.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, Section 30 of the Constitution of the PDP is unambiguous in providing for a National Caucus for the party with its composition, functions, and meetings clearly spelt out, leaving no room for any form of expansion.

    “The suggestion, proposal or announcement for a ‘Special Expanded National Caucus meeting’ is therefore unconstitutional and cannot take any decision for the PDP, being not a recognised organ or body in the PDP.”

    Mbah okays today’s NEC meeting

    Governor Mbah endorsed the position of the Southeast Zonal Executive Committee, Board of Trustees (BoT) and a section of the divided NWC on the protracted leadership crisis.

    He also re-echoed the threat by the Southeast Caucus to review its relationship with the party if Udeh-Okoye is not allowed to take over from Senator Anyanwu as National Secretary.

    Mbah, who supported those pushing for the NEC meeting today, said he is “simply fed up with the shenanigans that have more or less made the party an endless circus.”

    The governor spoke with reporters on the festering crisis in Enugu, the state capital, after a meeting with Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, BoT Chairman Senator Adolphus Wabara, and National Vice Chairman (Southeast) Chief Ali Odefa.

    The positions of the Southeast Caucus, BoT and a section of the NWC are that the Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Setonji Koshoedo, should act as Secretary, and the NEC meeting should be held today in Abuja.

    The positions tally with that of the PDP Governors’ Forum, led by Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed.

    But after a meeting with INEC last week, Damagum directed Anyanwu to return to the office as Secretary,  in accordance with the outcome of the parley.

    Mbah said: “For the record, just as I stated during my interactive session with fellows and members of the Nigerian Guild of Editors in Enugu at the weekend, while I am still a member of the PDP, the Southeast – and that includes me – reserves the right to review our continued membership of the party if the party is unwilling to put its house in order.

    “That was invariably the position adopted during our last Southeast Zonal meeting held here in Enugu.

    “During that meeting, the caucus noted that the party should not disregard the zone’s stand regarding the national secretary position.

    “To all intents and purposes, this has obviously not been the case. So, there is no doubt as to where I stand on the matter.

    “The position of the Southeast with respect to the national secretaryship of the party as issued in that communique is sacrosanct,” he stated.

    Other PDP chieftains at the meeting included a former National Chairman and BOT member, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo; Senator Sam Egwu, Iyom Josephine Anenih, Senator Ben Obi, and Udeh-Okoye.

    More defections likely, says Saraki

    Saraki, who spoke on television, warned that more chieftains may leave the party if the crisis is not resolved.

    He said: “PDP would likely see one or two more defections, and we should prepare ourselves for that. There is a possibility.

    “We haven’t seen the worst of the defections for PDP. We would probably see maybe one or two governors who will defect, and we might see some senators who will defect.

    “For some of us, this happening early in PDP is an advantage. We are lucky that this is not happening, let’s say late 2026. We would not even have had time to recover and regroup.

    “We have just under two years to the general election, and we are lucky to have that. I think, with a lot of commitment and understanding, it is not a lost cause.

    “A party of over 26 years of history, that has been around, the largest party, we will definitely have low times like this.”

    PDP has lost two governors and their supporters – Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta) and Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom) –  to the APC.

    Saraki described the unresolved dispute as the major obstacle preventing the PDP from convening a proper NEC meeting and organising a credible national convention.

    Saraki confirmed that INEC recognises Anyanwu as the legitimate PDP secretary, based on a Supreme Court judgment delivered on March 21, 2025.

    He noted that a recent meeting between PDP leaders and INEC helped clarify the commission’s position.

    Saraki called for the emergence of a younger, forward-looking leadership at the next party convention.

    He added: “This is not just about resolving today’s issues. It’s about building for the future.

    “The next convention must not be business as usual. We must bring in new, younger faces who represent the future of this party.

    “If PDP fails, Nigeria edges closer to a one-party state. And that would be a disaster for democracy.”

  • JUST IN: PDP chairman’s media aide Dingyadi resigns

    JUST IN: PDP chairman’s media aide Dingyadi resigns

    Malam Yusuf Abubakar Dingyadi, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications to the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has resigned from his position.

    In a letter dated June 25, 2025, and addressed to the acting national chairman, Ambassador Iliya Damagum, Dingyadi expressed deep appreciation for the opportunity to serve the party, although he did not disclose the reason behind his resignation.

    “While I appreciate the support and prayers of the PDP family during my stay in this office, I remain appreciative of all the contributions given to me to ensure the success of my assignment,” his letter read in part.

    Dingyadi was widely regarded as a dependable source of accurate and timely information on PDP affairs, especially during internal party crises.

    For over three years, he was a consistent voice defending the party’s interests and promoting unity through multiple media platforms, including radio, television, and print.

    A veteran political communicator, Dingyadi played notable roles in PDP campaigns during the Obasanjo/Atiku era and also served under the late Minister of Communications, Arzika Tambuwal.

    Read Also: NDLEA takes anti-drug abuse campaign to Lagos streets

    He was part of media teams for prominent political movements such as the late Shehu Musa Yar’Adua’s People’s Front (PF), the Social Democratic Party (SDP), the Democratic People’s Party (DPP) under Attahiru Bafarawa, and Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal’s administration.

    He also contributed significantly to presidential campaigns including Obasanjo/Atiku (1999, 2003), Goodluck Jonathan/Namadi Sambo (2011), and Atiku Abubakar/Ifeanyi Okowa (2023).

    Dingyadi, a seasoned journalist with over 20 years of experience, has worked with reputable media outlets such as Reporter/Nasiha, BBC Hausa, and several others within and outside Nigeria.

  • Unyielding, divided PDP

    Unyielding, divided PDP

    Having run out of excuses, Nigeria’s opposition parties have begun suggesting that the ruling party might be behind their ordeal. They are divided, sometimes into three factions, as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP) have shown, and have refused to yield to one another or rally around a common cause. They seem determined to perish separately. Last week, the PDP once again witnessed a stirring. It occurred to some bright minds within the party that the fractures in the PDP might produce negative electoral consequences in forthcoming elections, particularly regarding fielding of candidates. The electoral body, INEC, should be in a position to shed light on how the party should proceed safely, some of the party bigwigs mused.

    READ ALSO: Again, the Fubara-Wike rapprochement

    They thereafter consulted the INEC leadership, discovered their errant ways, and then took remedial step to suspend their National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting earlier fixed for June 30. Nonsense, said some of their factional leaders. No one could shift that sacrosanct date, regardless of what INEC said, and the meeting would still hold, thundered the faction now described as the Seyi Makinde-led group. This intransigent position is reportedly backed by some 11 National Working Committee (NWC) members. Somewhere in the wings, another implacable leader of the party, FCT minister Nyesom Wike, kept pouring scorn on their uncertainties. From all indications, and if care is not taken, all PDP factions might soon forget why they are squabbling.

  • PDP BoT opposes Anyanwu’s return as national secretary

    PDP BoT opposes Anyanwu’s return as national secretary

    The Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has declared its opposition to the return of Senator Samuel Anyanwu as national secretary of the party.

    It also kicked against Acting National Chair Umar Damagum’s postponement of Monday’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting.

    Anyanwu was reinstated after a parley between the party’s leadership and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    The reinstatement sparked a row in the National Working Committee(NWC), with 11 of 19 members warning Damagum about the consequences of violating   NEC’s directive that the Deputy National Secretary, Setonji Koshoedo, should act as secretary.

    Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde is believed to have broken ranks with his fellow governors over the issue.

    Makinde is believed to be opposed to Anyanwu’s return, while the PDP governors’ forum chair and Bauchi State Governor Bala Muhammed are in support of Anyanwu.

    Two of the 11 NWC members -the National Vice Chairman (North West), Senator Bello Hayatu Gwarzo, and the National Treasurer, Ahmed Yayari- denied involvement in the anti-Damagum plot.

    They also said they are not part of the agenda to hold the next NEC meeting on Monday.

    Wabara kicks

    Wabara condemned Damagum, saying that his decision on reinstatement was invalid.

    He said he was speaking for the BoT, and not for himself

    In a statement, Wabara, a  former Senate President, said: “The attention of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been drawn to an unconstitutional pronouncement by the Acting National Chairman of our great party, Amb. Umar Iliya Damagum, purporting to cancel the 100th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting scheduled to be held on Monday, 30th June, 2025 and directing Senator Samuel Anyanwu to resume as National Secretary of the party

    “The BoT, in defence of the Constitution of the PDP, states categorically that these pronouncements by the Acting National Chairman are null, void and of no effect, being inconsistent and in gross violation of the express provisions of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017).

    Read Also: Nigeria opens door to new economy as Tinubu signs landmark tax reform laws

    “For the avoidance of doubt, the National Executive Committee (NEC) is the highest decision-making Organ of the Party, second only to the National Convention; by Section 31 (3) of the PDP Constitution, the resolution of the NEC at its 99th meeting held on Tuesday, 27th May, 2025 to hold its 100th meeting on Monday, 30th June, 2025 is binding on all Organs and members of the PDP.

    “To this effect, being an NEC decision, no organ, group or individual has the power or competence to cancel, adjust or postpone the 100th NEC meeting already scheduled.

     “It is, therefore, not within the remit or authority of the Acting National Chairman to override a collective decision of the NEC. ‘’Such conduct amounts to an affront to the constitutional authority of NEC and the collective will of our party.”

     Gwarzo and Yayari said in a statement that Anyanwu’s reinstatement was in the best interest of the party.

    Gwarzo said: “It is important to state that the decision to recall Senator Anyanwu did not happen in a vacuum; following the interactive session between the party’s leadership and the leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and a follow-up meeting on Wednesday, 25th June 2025 at PDP National Secretariat, Wadata Plaza Wuse Zone 5 Abuja, mandated the acting National Chairman of the party to issue the statement recalling the national secretary.”

    The National Youth Leader, Timothy Osadolor, said the National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, was joking when he fixed the NEC meeting for Monday without clearance from the acting chairman.

  • PDP to INEC: Tell us our secretary!

    PDP to INEC: Tell us our secretary!

    It was the most embarrassing and shameful question that any group can ask a non-member of the group. On Tuesday, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was at the Abuja headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to wait for it, ask the agency who the party’s secretary is. It was, as someone noted yesterday, one question too many.

    How can PDP expect INEC to determine who the party’s secretary is for it? What is INEC’s business with who the person is? It should be PDP telling INEC who its secretary is and not the other way round. But what will Nigerians not see from PDP? Its visit to INEC was prompted by the agency’s query over its correspondence on its forthcoming National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting. The party wrote to INEC, informing the agency of its NEC meeting fixed for June 30. The letter was solely signed by its national chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum. Whereas, it should have been jointly signed with the secretary.

    So, you can now understand why it asked INEC: “who is our secretary?”. The bemused INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, there and then proceeded to lecture the party and its chieftains and asked them to return home to put their house in order. PDP cannot be easily forgotten in the political annals of Nigeria. It has played a leading role in the present democratic journey which began in 1999. It remains to be seen whether its NEC meeting will hold, as scheduled, because of the communication problem.

    PDP was the first party to rule Nigeria. Between 1999 and 2015 that it held sway, PDP was larger than life itself. It swept every other party out of the way, and at the height of its reign, it boasted in 2008 that it would be in power for 60 years. Since pride goes before a fall, that boast by its then national chairman, Vincent Ogbulafor, was the beginning of its end. It fell yakata at the polls seven years later! A coalition of parties that became known as All Progressives Congress (APC) wrested power from it 10 years ago.

    The coalition comprised a rump of PDP known then as nPDP, a breakaway faction of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), the dissolved Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). These legacy parties, especially CPC and ACN gave up their identities to form APC, but PDP and APGA remained in one form or the other. Indeed, some PDP and APGA members who played leading roles in the formation of APC have since returned to their original parties.

    Just as they did to PDP, some of those who championed APC’s formation like Rotimi Amaechi and Nasir El-Rufai, are now planning to give APC the same treatment. El-Rufai has left the party. Amaechi has not formally done so, but he is as good as gone. Both men are in the vanguard of what they call a ‘national coalition’ to unseat APC in 2027. Coalition appears the easy way to go, but those that they look down upon as ‘small parties,’ like the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the All Democratic Congress (ADC), may play the spoiler.

    Reason: these ‘small parties’ that they are planning to hijack and name as their new platform, is not playing ball. The alternative is to form a new party and that is not an easy route to take, going by the guidelines of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the registration of parties.

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    Invariably, some PDP stalwarts who are the  brains behind the coalition, incurred the ire of the governors and National Assembly members elected on the party’s platform, among others. Do not mind that these latter-day ‘die-hard’ PDP members were also in the not too distant past involved in this kind of game of building a coalition right under the nose of their own party that was then in power, just as Amaechi and a few other APC members, who have not left the party are doing now.

    Even, one of PDP’s leading lights, Atiku Abubakar, who has changed parties as often as a woman changes wrappers, in his hunger for presidential power can be assessed on the same parameters. Political watchers, are however, wondering why he should be talking of a coalition instead of working for the cohesion of his party. PDP is sharply divided. It has lost many of its members, including governors and National and state assemblies’ members to APC in the last few months. There is also trouble in its National Working Committee (NWC) over who the party’s secretary is.

    Senator Samuel Anyanwu held the position until he went to contest the last governorship election in his home state of Imo. The post was not filled in his absence. After the election, Anyanwu cashed in on the lacuna to take back his job. The NWC rebuffed his move, insisting that Sunday Ude-Okoye had been appointed as secretary. The NWC did that without recourse to the NEC, which has the sole authority to so act. The legality of the matter became an issue. At the end of the day, the Supreme Court, in a back to sender manner, ordered the litigants to go and resolve what it called the ‘party’s internal affair’.

    Since then, the party has been running from pillar to post and experimenting with different secretaries in its dealings with others, using the one that suits its purpose at any point in time. For its landmark 100th NEC meeting billed for June 30, it tried to be clever by half, but INEC saw through its trick. INEC faulted the party’s correspondence on grounds that it was not co-signed by the secretary and urged the party to go and do the right thing.

    The party insisted that it did nothing wrong since the NEC meeting is non-elective, meaning it is not for the election of its executive, which INEC must monitor upon being notified in a letter jointly written and signed by its chairman and secretary. But it was tongue-tied when it was told that on the 99 previous occasions that it wrote to INEC on its NEC meeting, the letters had always borne the signatures of its chairman and secretary. According to INEC, “we are happy that this is the 100th meeting. Meaning that 99 times in the past you wrote to us. On those 99 occasions, the letters were signed by the chairman and secretary”.

    In recent times, INEC recalled that it has been receiving letters from the party signed by different secretaries. “At a time, we received a letter signed by Anyanwu. We got another one signed by Ude-Okoye; then another came from Anyanwu and we got another from Setonji Koshoedo”. Who is really PDP National Secretary? It looks like a simple question, but it is not that easy for PDP to answer. It went to INEC to seek clarification and came out “more confused”, according to this paper’s lead headline yesterday. How can a party not know its own national secretary.

    PDP went to INEC pretending not to know who is its secretary, and asked the agency to bail it out. Oh, blimey! What a party? How come PDP led this country for 16 years with this kind of infantilism? For God’s sake, how can a party, not any party for that matter, but PDP and its chieftains go to INEC and be asking, probably with hands behind their backs, like schoolboys: “sir, please, who is our secretary?” PDP has become a joke of a party, and nothing portrays this more than its childlike act at INEC office. Is this the party that wants to return to power in 2027?

    Nigeria and its people deserve more than that. The country cannot afford to be led again by a party that does not know its right from its left. If PDP does not know who its secretary is, how then can it figure out what the country’s challenges are if given the chance to lead again? Nigeria cannot afford to return to Egypt. PDP should return to the drawing board and put its house in order, as Yakubu advised.

    •postscript: Anyanwu has been reinstated as secretary