On Monday, June 30, 2025, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) brought back Senator Samuel Anyanwu as the party’s National Secretary, but with conditions.
During the party’s 100th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja, it was reported that party leaders decided that Anyanwu could be allowed to return to office provided he dropped all court cases related to his position and pledged not to meddle in the August National Elective Convention.
Reports state that the Board of Trustees, governors, and parliamentarians agreed to permit Anyanwu to return as long as he complies with the regulations, according to sources at the PDP National Secretariat.
He was asked to sign a pledge promising not to harass any party employees or interfere with the convention’s agenda, according to a source.
He was also had to consent to the withdrawal of any lawsuits he had brought against the party.
Speaking to reporters, PDP interim National Chairman Umar Damagum later affirmed Anyanwu’s reinstatement.
Senator Anyanwu will remain National Secretary, as we all agreed,” Damagum stated.
The next NEC meeting is set for July 23rd, during which time the plans for the national convention will be finalized.
Last week, Damagum met at Wadata Plaza with Anyanwu and several important members of the National Working Committee (NWC). They reaffirmed their support for Anyanwu and encouraged him to serve as secretary.
An additional group of NWC members, including Acting Secretary Setonji Koshoedo, South-East Vice Chairman Ali Odefa, and Deputy National Chairman (South), Taofeek Arapaja, met separately at the same location a few hours later and approved Koshoedo’s continuation in his role as acting secretary.
The divide is a reflection of deeper party divisions that have been present since the general elections in 2023.
In the meantime, there are two opposing factions within the opposition party: one supports Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, while the other supports Nyesom Wike, the current Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister and former Governor of Rivers State.
Makinde’s group has pushed for the NEC to move forward without Anyanwu because they are against his return. They are supported by the governors of Enugu, Osun, Zamfara, and Bayelsa.
But Wike’s team, which included of governors from Adamawa, Taraba, Bauchi, and the Plateau, supported Anyanwu and advocated for a postponement of the North African Conference.
Police Block PDP Headquarters, BoT Relocates Meeting
Ahead of yesterday’s NEC meeting, the Board of Trustees (BoT) had to relocate its meeting to the Yar’Adua Center after police and other security forces closed off Wadata Plaza due to increased tensions.
The roadblock was denounced as an attempt to intimidate the party by Secretary Senator Ahmed Makarfi and BoT Chairman Senator Adolphus Wabara in response to this development.
“As directed, I arrived at the Bauchi Governor’s Lodge at 10 am. The National Working Committee, the governors, and the minority leadership of the National Assembly were all present at the meeting. It was designed to close divisions inside the party so that we could come together as a single entity at the scheduled NEC meeting instead of coming out split,” he stated.
The governors expressed their obvious distress and asked why the situation had become so embarrassing. In order to prevent any more problems, it was decided to have the meeting here because the chairman had already made other arrangements by that point.
It is wrong to interfere in this way. It jeopardizes both our democracy and the freedom of the opposition. We’re not going to let it stop us from addressing our internal problems and putting up a united, powerful front for the Nigerian people.
Wabara continued, “I almost got out of my car this morning after seeing how some people were treated. It made me really uncomfortable, so I urged my driver to move.
I ask everyone to exercise patience, nevertheless. This provocation should not divert us from our goal of reviving and fortifying our party.
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This is a very special meeting of the Board of Directors, let me stress that. Let’s keep this as our 80th meeting of the Board of Directors. When questions come up in the future, we’ll act appropriately so that people will comprehend the unique conditions that led to the event.
“We are committed to upholding democratic values and making sure the PDP continues to be a viable option for Nigerians in spite of the obstacles.”
The Bauchi Governor’s Lodge in Abuja was the site of a last-minute emergency meeting amongst party leaders, including governors, NWC members, and BoT officials, before to the NEC’s arrival at Wadata Plaza.
The confidential session was important, a source said.
“The meeting was very serious. The NEC must continue, and Anyanwu must be reinstated in accordance with the party’s constitution, according to the source.
Additionally, there were worries that INEC might not recognize another candidate for secretary, which could have legal repercussions.
Anyanwu was present, according to the source, and consented to follow the conditions imposed on his return.
Unfortunately, it was understood that the South East PDP leaders did not approve of the NEC’s decision.
Enugu State PDP chairman Martin Chukwunweike informed reporters that the area would convene and assess the results.
“The South East’s stance is still unclear, even though NEC appears to have decided that it might be Anyanwu, but we haven’t really accepted it,” he stated.
“We will get together and decide on that. Tomorrow or the next day, we will get together again to discuss NEC’s stance and make a firm decision on whether or not to accept.
