Eleven members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have faulted the reinstatement of Senator Samuel Anyanwu as national secretary of the party as well as the cancellation of the scheduled National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party slated for June 30.
Faulting the acting national chairman, Amb. Umar Illiya Damagum, who make the pronouncements on Anyanwu’s return and NEC meeting cancellation, the NWC members said his declarations 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).
The NWC members who opposed Damagum included 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 and Hon. Debo Ologunagba – National Publicity Secretary.
Others were Woyengikuro Daniel – 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, and Hon. Ajisafe Kamoru Toyese – National Vice Chairman (South-West).
They also declared support for the national publicity secretary of the party, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, over his comments on the NEC meeting on June 30
They distanced themselves from Damagum’s rejection of Ologunagba’s insistence on the holding of NEC meeting at a press briefing last Sunday.
Dismissing Damagum’s position, the 11 NWC members said the NEC meeting was not cancelled or postponed and that Anyanwu was not reinstated.
The NWC members, in a jointly signed statement, accused Damagum of attempting to overturn the resolution of the 99th NEC meeting, which scheduled the 100th NEC meeting for Monday, June 30, 2025.
They also said the acting national chairman’s announcement of Anyanwu’s return was contrary to the resolution of the 99th NEC meeting which referred all matters relating to the office of the national secretary to the 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 canceled or postponed.”
They also disagreed with Damagum on the media interactive session held by the national publicity secretary, Ologunagba, on the scheduled 100th NEC meeting.
“The Acting National Chairman in the said public statement purportedly stated that Hon. Debo Ologunagba was not authorized by the National Working Committee to make his comments on the scheduled 100th NEC meeting.
“It is important to clarify that the comments made by the National Publicity Secretary at that media session with regard to the scheduled 100th NEC meeting is the position of the party and he has the authority and backing of the NWC.
“The scheduling of the 100th NEC meeting on Monday, 30th June, 2025 is the unanimous decision reached by NEC at its 99th meeting held on Tuesday, 27th May, 2025 which was clearly stated in the Communique publicly read by the Acting National Chairman.
“The NWC and indeed all other Organs, officers, chapters and bodies of the PDP are bound by the decision of NEC which is to hold its 100th meeting on Monday, 30th June, 2025,” they stated.
