As the internal crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) escalates, two rival factions are poised for a showdown over the party’s 100th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting and the disputed position of National Secretary. Conflicting camps have planned parallel meetings in Abuja, intensifying the leadership struggle within the main opposition party.
Sources within the party told The Newsmen that factions loyal to different power blocs were mobilising for separate NEC and National Caucus meetings today. While one group insists on holding the 100th NEC meeting as scheduled, another faction is calling for its postponement and is backing the reinstatement of Senator Samuel Anyanwu as National Secretary.
On Sunday, a group of National Working Committee (NWC) members, including acting Chairman Umar Damagum, Anyanwu, and others, met and reaffirmed their decision to replace the NEC meeting with an expanded National Caucus session. However, a larger group of NWC members led by Deputy Chairman (South), Taofeek Arapaja, insisted the NEC meeting must proceed today with Setonji Koshoedo as acting National Secretary.
Governors Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Peter Mbah (Enugu), Douye Diri (Bayelsa), Ademola Adeleke (Osun), and Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), along with 11 NWC members, support Koshoedo and have rejected Anyanwu’s return. In contrast, former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike’s camp — backed by Governors Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), Adamu Fintiri (Adamawa), and others — support Anyanwu and are pushing for a delay in the NEC meeting.
The crisis follows a previous decision by the party’s 99th NEC to hold its 100th meeting on June 30. Damagum had communicated this date to INEC on May 30. However, INEC declined to recognise the notice, stating that such correspondence must be co-signed by both the National Chairman and National Secretary, in line with PDP’s constitution.
In a press conference last week, Damagum declared that Anyanwu had been reinstated and that the NEC meeting would be postponed. He announced a new Expanded National Caucus meeting for June 30 instead, a move he said was supported by a majority of stakeholders. This announcement was backed by top party figures, including Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed and former Senate President Bukola Saraki.
Despite this, 11 out of 18 NWC members rejected Anyanwu’s reinstatement, labelling Damagum’s actions as unconstitutional. They maintained that the NEC meeting, as scheduled by the 99th NEC, must go ahead today. The group has already printed accreditation materials and issued invitations to NEC members.
At a press briefing on Sunday, Arapaja reaffirmed that the NEC meeting would proceed today at Wadata Plaza in Abuja. He warned against what he called an unconstitutional “Expanded National Caucus” meeting, citing the PDP Constitution which does not provide for such a body. Arapaja insisted that only the NEC has the authority to make key party decisions.
Meanwhile, Wike’s loyalists have maintained that today’s gathering is not an NEC session but a National Caucus meeting. A source from the faction said the announcement for the change was made following Anyanwu’s reinstatement, and the acting National Chairman’s declaration should be respected.
The unfolding events mark a critical test for the PDP’s cohesion and internal democracy as it attempts to resolve leadership disputes and reposition itself ahead of future electoral battles.
