The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has reinstated Samuel Anyanwu to his position as National Secretary.
Ambassador Iliya Damagum, Acting National Chairman of the party, who announced this at a press briefing which held at the PDP headquarter in Abuja, on Wednesday, said the decision was a difficult one.
Damagum, flanked by Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, former Senate President Bukola Saraki, and other stakeholders, said though the decision was challenging, it was ultimately accepted by a majority of party members, led by the party’s organs.
He also announced the cancellation of the planned NEC meeting, saying, “We will have an expanded Caucus, at the next Caucus we will take a decision leading to a proper NEC.
“Anyanwu is resuming as the National Secretary, that is why I said it was a critical decision. Like INEC said they don’t have our notice, so what we will have on June 30th is an extended Caucus.”
The development comes after PDP leaders held a meeting with Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, on Tuesday.
Although neither INEC officials nor the opposition members agreed to speak with the press after the meeting, sources told Daily Trust that Yakubu asked the PDP to adhere to the Supreme Court judgement on the position of its national secretary.
The electoral body also told the PDP leaders comprising of governors, members of the National Working Committee (NWC) Board of Trustees (BoT), members and some lawmakers elected on the platform of the party, that it will only accept correspondences signed by the national chairman and national secretary of the party.
It was further gathered that the meeting was called at the instance of the PDP, following the refusal of INEC to accept its notification of a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting slated for the end of this month.
INEC had rejected the letter on the grounds that it was not signed by the chairman and secretary of the party. Only the acting chairman, Umar Damagum signed the letter.
It was reliably gathered from sources within the party hierarchy that during the meeting, INEC refused to mention any name as the secretary, saying the party is the one that should know its leaders.
A top ranking official of the party said that, “the party wanted to know from INEC who is recognised as the national secretary, but the commission told the party that the Supreme Court ruling on the matter was clear and that what the party needed to do was to obey the judgement.
“As I am talking to you, the leaders of the party are still in another meeting and they might come up with a name that will be presented to INEC, because the commission has made it clear; it will not accept any correspondence that is not signed by both parties”.
It was further gathered that after the meeting with INEC, the PDP leaders were locked in a high level meeting to find a way out of the problem at the Bauchi Governors lodge in Asokoro, Abuja.
Controversy over National Secretary
Trouble over the rightful occupant of the National Secretary seat started when Anyanwu won the Imo State Governorship Primaries for the last election.
In his absence the South East Caucus of the party chose Sunday Udeh-Okoye, a former National Youth leader of the party, as his replacement.
On his return after losing the election, Anyanwu sought o reclaim his position, but was blocked by some stakeholders from his zone led by Chief Ali Odefa, the Deputy National, South East of the party since his replacement had been nominated and presented to the leadership of the party.
The development led to series of litigations before the court of appeal sitting in Enugu ruled in December 2024 and affirmed Udeh-Okoye as the rightful national secretary.
Not happy with the decision of the Enugu court, Anyanwu took the case to the supreme court.
The Supreme Court in its judgment squashed the ruling of the courts that gave judgment to Ude-Okoye, but added that the party is supreme and should decide its leaders.
The Supreme Court ruling had deepened the crisis, with those in support and against Anyanwu, laying claim to victory.
Worried by the development, the PDP Governors nominated the the Deputy National Secretary, Setonji Koshoedo, to act as Secretary pending the resolution of the crisis.
