We’ve Reinstated Anyanwu As National Secretary –Acting Chairman

.Not True, Arapaja, Ologunagba, Koshoedo Others

Crisis rocking the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) deepened further Wednesday following claims by the acting national chairman,
Ambassador Iliya Damagum that Senator Samuel Anyanwu has
formally been reinstated as the party National Secretary.

At a press briefing in Abuja, he also announcedhe cancelation of the National Executive Committee, NEC meeting earlier slated for Monday June 30, 2025.

But in a swift reaction, Amb. Taofeek Arapaja – Deputy National Chairman (South) and 10 other members of the National Working Committee, NWC, of the party, disowned Damagum on the two issues, insisting that Senator Anyanwu has not been reinstated.

They said also, that NEC meeting will hold as scheduled next week, stressing that the chairman has no power to upturn earlier decisions of the NEC on the two issues thereby deepening cracks within the party.

Damagum disclosed that the decision to reinstate Anyanwu into the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) was not an easy one but reflected the majority will of the party’s leadership organs and stakeholders.

He said: “It was a critical decision, but one that had to be made for the unity and stability of our party”.

He announced the cancellation of the much-anticipated National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, which had been slated to address the party’s internal wranglings.

“We will no longer hold the NEC meeting as earlier planned. Instead, we will convene an expanded Caucus meeting on June 30th. At that meeting, decisions will be taken that will lead to a properly constituted NEC session”, he stated.

He echoed the position of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which had earlier distanced itself from the party’s internal dispute, saying, “Like INEC said, they don’t have our notice. So what we will have on June 30th is an extended Caucus.”

However in a statement signed by Arapaja and 10 others, the officers faulted Damagum’s pronouncements on the ground that it lacked basis in law.

It read: “The attention of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been drawn to a press briefing by the Acting National Chairman, Amb. Umar Damagum, today Wednesday, 25th June, 2025 wherein he attempted to overturn the resolution of the 99th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting which scheduled the 100th NEC meeting for Monday, 30th June, 2025.
“The Acting National Chairman in the said press briefing also reportedly announced that Senator Samuel Anyanwu has been asked to resume as National Secretary of the Party, contrary to the resolution of the 99th NEC meeting which referred all matters relating to the office of the National Secretary to 100th NEC meeting.

“The pronouncements by the Acting National Chairman have no foundation as no Organ of the Party (including the NWC), individual or group has the power to cancel, overrule, veto or vary the resolution of the National Executive Committee (NEC) under the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017).

“For the avoidance of doubt, the NEC is the highest decision-making Organ of the Party, second only to the National Convention.

“By virtue of Section 31 (3) of the PDP Constitution, the resolution of the NEC to hold its 100th meeting on Monday 30th June, 2025 is binding on all Organs, Officers, Chapters and members of the Party and no Organ, group or individual can vary or veto this resolution of NEC.

“Furthermore, the claim by Amb. Damagum that Sen. Samuel Anyanwu has been asked to resume office as the National Secretary of the Party is therefore misleading being contrary to the resolution of NEC.

“In the light of the foregoing, the 100th NEC meeting as scheduled for Monday, 30th June, 2025 has not been cancelled or postponed.

Signed:

Amb. Taofeek Arapaja – Deputy National Chairman (South)

Hon. (Arc) Setonji Koshoedo – Acting National Secretary

Hon. Ahmed Yayari Mohammed – National Treasurer

Sir. Okechukwu Obiechina Daniel – National Auditor

Hon. Debo Ologunagba – National Publicity Secretary

Woyengikuro Daniel Ph.D – National Financial Secretary

High Chief Ali Odefa – National Vice Chairman (South East)

Hon. Emmanuel Ogidi- Caretaker Committee Chairman (South South)

Hon. Mrs. Amina Darasimi D. Bryhm – National Woman Leader

Senator Hayatu Bello Gwarzo

Hon. Ajisafe Kamoru Toyese – National Vice Chairman (South West)