Abuja, Nigeria – Nigeria’s main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has reinstated Senator Samuel Anyanwu as its national secretary, a decision announced following the party’s 100th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja on Monday. This move comes after months of significant internal conflict within the party, which intensified after their defeat in the 2023 presidential election.
Umar Damagum, the PDP’s acting National Chairman, confirmed Anyanwu’s reinstatement to journalists after the NEC meeting. He also announced that the 101st NEC meeting has been scheduled for July 23rd, with the aim of finalising arrangements for the upcoming national convention.
The PDP has been grappling with deep divisions, which became particularly pronounced after the party leadership reportedly wrote to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on June 24th concerning the National Secretary position, further escalating the crisis.
Rival Factions and Compromise
The path to Anyanwu’s reinstatement was fraught with internal power struggles. On Sunday, a meeting convened by acting National Chairman Damagum included Senator Anyanwu and several other National Working Committee (NWC) members. This group publicly reaffirmed their support for Anyanwu as the duly elected National Secretary and backed an expanded National Caucus meeting.
However, a rival faction of the NWC, including Deputy National Chairman (South), Taofeek Arapaja, and the acting National Secretary, Setonji Koshoedo, insisted that the NEC meeting should proceed as scheduled with Koshoedo retaining his acting role. This internal split highlighted the broader power struggle within the party.
One key bloc, aligned with Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and supported by several other state governors and influential party leaders, had been pushing for the NEC meeting to go ahead as planned and firmly opposed Anyanwu’s return. In contrast, a faction led by former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, backed by different state governors and key party officials, supported Anyanwu’s reinstatement and had initially called for the NEC meeting to be delayed.
The scheduling of conflicting meetings by both factions at the party’s Wadata Plaza headquarters further heightened internal tensions.
Emergency Meeting and Resolution
Amidst heightened security, including the cordoning off of Wadata Plaza by police and other security agencies, PDP governors, NWC members, Board of Trustees members, and National Assembly representatives convened an emergency meeting at the Bauchi State Governor’s Lodge in Abuja.
During this gathering, it was reportedly agreed that the 100th NEC meeting would proceed as initially scheduled. Subsequently, party leaders arrived at the PDP National Headquarters.
Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Mr. Damagum expressed confidence in the PDP’s internal mechanisms to resolve its crises. “We’ve all combined in one, we were all together, and we all agree that Senator Anyanwu will continue to act as National Secretary,” he stated.
He further explained that the issue of the national convention would be addressed at the next NEC meeting on July 23rd, which he and Senator Anyanwu would jointly sign to fulfil regulatory requirements for convening meetings.
“To our detractors who thought this meeting would go on course or perhaps be the end of the party, the beauty of the Peoples Democratic Party is that it is the only party in this country that has and knows the internal mechanism to solve its own problems and run freely,” Mr. Damagum concluded, emphasizing the unity displayed by governors and NWC members.
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