The crisis in Nigeria’s main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has become worse after the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT) rejected key decisions made by Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum.
The BoT insisted that the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting must hold on June 30, 2025, as earlier planned. They described Damagum’s decision to postpone the meeting as “a gross violation” of the party’s constitution.
In a statement signed by BoT Chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara, the elders said, “The unilateral cancellation of the 100th NEC meeting and pronouncements by the acting national chairman are a gross violation of the party’s constitutional order.”
Wabara also criticised Damagum for reinstating Senator Samuel Anyanwu as National Secretary. He called the move “a gross abuse of office,” and insisted that Arc. Setonji Koshoedo remains the acting national secretary until the right party organ makes a formal change.
“All party members must respect the PDP constitution and ignore actions that could cause crisis,” Wabara added.
The crisis reflects a power struggle within the PDP between two major camps. One is led by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and supports the June 30 NEC meeting and Koshoedo as acting secretary. The other group, loyal to Minister Nyesom Wike, backs Damagum and Anyanwu.
Makinde’s group includes key PDP leaders like Deputy National Chairman (South), Taofeek Arapaja; National Treasurer, Ahmed Yayari; and National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba.
Wike’s allies support Damagum’s postponement of the NEC meeting and Anyanwu’s return. They released a joint statement calling for peace.
“We have advised all parties to come down from their high horses and jaw-jaw rather than war-war. A war between brothers and sisters has no victor; everyone loses,” the statement said.
Meanwhile, a reconciliation committee led by former Senate President Bukola Saraki reportedly backed Anyanwu’s return to avoid a total collapse of the party.
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A source close to the committee said, “The Supreme Court ruling was vague. But INEC already recognises Anyanwu as the national secretary. For the NEC meeting to be valid, the notice must be signed by both the national chairman and national secretary. That is why the committee supported his return—for the sake of legality.”
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) confirmed that any party meeting like the NEC must follow legal procedures. INEC spokesperson, Rotimi Oyekanmi, said, “Failure to notify INEC as required by Section 82 of the Electoral Act shall render the meeting invalid. This notice must be signed by the national chairman and national secretary.”
In another development, a Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed September 22, 2025, to hear a case that will determine who the true national secretary of the PDP is.
Political observers warn that if the crisis continues, the PDP may face problems during the upcoming Federal Capital Territory elections and the 2027 general elections.