The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) deepened on Tuesday as the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) was formally informed that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) recognises Senator Samuel Anyanwu as the PDP’s National Secretary.
The revelation came from the PDP Fact-Finding Committee led by Taraba State Governor, Agbu Kefas, during the party’s 99th NEC meeting in Abuja. Kefas disclosed that INEC’s position is based on a Supreme Court judgment affirming Anyanwu’s status and the party’s own constitutional processes, which require a 21-day notice and compliance with legal procedures for his removal.
The NEC has now scheduled a follow-up meeting for June 30 to address the resolution from the South-East Zonal Executive seeking Anyanwu’s removal, following growing discontent among party leaders, especially over his loyalty to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.
Wike, who has been at loggerheads with the PDP leadership, recently withdrew from the party’s reconciliation efforts, accusing Governors Seyi Makinde and Peter Mbah of fuelling the crisis. The development threatens to further fracture the party, already grappling with multiple crises across several zones.
At the chaotic NEC meeting, a South-East member moved a motion questioning the status of Ali Odefa as the PDP’s South-East Zonal Chairman, citing a court judgment that purportedly removed him. The issue was deferred for further deliberation at the next NEC meeting.
In a communique issued at the end of the meeting, Acting PDP National Chairman, Umar Damagum, confirmed the acceptance of the Kefas committee’s report and the NEC’s decision to deliberate on the South-East petition on June 30. The party also ratified the composition of its National Convention Planning Committee and Zoning Committee ahead of the PDP’s national convention scheduled for August 28-30, 2025.
Meanwhile, the crisis threatens to worsen divisions within the party, with Wike’s allies and governors such as Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau), Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa), and others increasingly at odds with the party’s leadership.
As tensions mount, there are fears that the festering crisis may trigger further defections to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), as seen recently with Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori.
