The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took a new turn as 11 members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) openly disagreed with the Acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum, over the purported reinstatement of Senator Samuel Anyanwu as National Secretary.
In a joint statement released by the NWC members, they described Damagum’s announcement as unconstitutional and contrary to the decision taken at the party’s 99th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting.
The NWC clarified that the issue of the National Secretary was referred to the 100th NEC meeting scheduled to hold on Monday, June 30, 2025, and that no one — not even the NWC — has the authority to override that decision.
“The NEC remains the highest decision-making body of the PDP after the National Convention,” the statement read. “By the provisions of Section 31 (3) of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017), the resolution of the NEC is binding on all organs and officers of the party.”
They also rejected the claim by Damagum that the 100th NEC meeting had been cancelled, stressing that such a pronouncement has no legal backing and should be disregarded.
“It is therefore misleading and against the PDP Constitution for Ambassador Damagum to claim that Senator Samuel Anyanwu has resumed as National Secretary when the matter is yet to be decided by the appropriate organ,” the NWC stated.
This rebuttal follows Damagum’s earlier press briefing where he announced Anyanwu’s return and claimed the NEC meeting had been called off, a move now strongly opposed by other party leaders.
As the power tussle deepens, observers say the outcome of the 100th NEC meeting on June 30 could determine the future leadership direction of the party.
