National Secretary Role: PDP to Meet INEC Over Alleged Interference

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will today (Wednesday) meet with the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, over what it describes as alleged interference by the commission in the party’s internal affairs, specifically regarding the role of its National Secretary.

The meeting, which will be led by the PDP’s Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, alongside governors elected on the party’s platform and other key stakeholders, comes amid rising tension ahead of the party’s 100th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting scheduled for June 30.

At the centre of the dispute is the contest over who legitimately occupies the position of National Secretary. The South-East Caucus of the party had nominated Sunday Udeh-Okoye to replace Senator Samuel Anyanwu, who had become the party’s candidate in the 2023 Imo State governorship election. However, Anyanwu, after losing the election, returned to reclaim his former position without a formal resignation.

Despite an internal resolution to appoint Deputy National Secretary Setonji Koshoedo in an acting capacity, INEC continues to recognise Anyanwu as the party’s National Secretary—a position some PDP leaders allege is being influenced by external forces, including Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike.

Recently, a PDP National Caucus Fact-Finding Committee led by Taraba State Governor Agbu Kefas confirmed INEC’s continued recognition of Anyanwu. The report, submitted at the 99th NEC meeting on May 27, led to the deferral of the matter until June 30.

In a letter titled “Notice of 100th National Executive Committee Meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party,” Damagum formally notified INEC of the party’s upcoming meeting.

The letter stated, “We write to formally inform and invite INEC that the leadership of our great party, PDP has scheduled our 100th NEC meeting to hold on Monday, June 30, 2025 at the National Secretariat of our party, Wadata Plaza, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja. This is for the commission’s information and necessary action, please. While thanking you for your usual cooperation, kindly acknowledge receipt of this letter and please accept the assurances of our highest regards.”

However, INEC on Tuesday raised objections to the notice. In a letter dated June 13, signed by Acting Secretary Mathru Aminu and addressed to the PDP chairman, the electoral body stated that the notice was invalid as it failed to comply with its 2022 Regulations and Guidelines.

Specifically, INEC cited Part 2(12)3 of the guidelines, which stipulates that notices for NEC meetings must be jointly signed by both the National Chairman and the National Secretary.

“The commission draws your attention that the notice is not in compliance with the requirement of Part 2(12)3 of the Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties, 2022 that provides ‘The National Chairman and National Secretary of the Party shall jointly sign the notice of convention, congress, conference or meeting and submit same to the Commission. Be guided,” the letter read.

Reacting to the situation, former PDP Deputy National Chairman (South), Chief Bode George, stressed that the matter of who occupies the position of National Secretary is strictly the party’s internal affair, not for INEC to determine.

“INEC cannot say it recognises Anyanwu as the PDP National Secretary. There is a meeting tomorrow (Wednesday) between the PDP National Chairman, the PDP Governors Forum and the INEC Chairman. INEC cannot decide” who the PDP National Secretary is.

George also said, “If the Supreme Court has spoken on this matter, people should be very careful. If the Supreme Court said the issue of the secretary of a party is internal affairs of the party, what is INEC saying? Between INEC and the Supreme Court, which has more powers?”

He advised INEC’s chairman to tread cautiously:
“I want to tell Prof Mahmood Yakubu, kadan kadan (tread softly). You can see what is happening to those who said there would be only one party in Nigeria. We have a Deputy National Secretary who is now the Acting Secretary. Look at what they did in Gombe last weekend. That is just the beginning. The PDP shall never get so low as that level.”

“Is INEC saying we don’t have a secretary now? Let’s await the outcome of Wednesday’s meeting.”

Also speaking, PDP National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature, said, “Allow Sen Anyanwu to sign (Notice of NEC meeting),” he said.

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