PDP NEC meeting holds today, NWC members insist – Daily Trust

• No, it’s expanded caucus session – Damagum’s group

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will hold a high-stakes meeting of its key stakeholders today at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.

While 11 members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) yesterday insisted that it would be the 100th meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC); the group of the party’s acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, said it would be an expanded national caucus meeting.

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Daily Trust understands that intense mobilisation efforts have been ongoing, with each faction lobbying stakeholders to adopt its preferred format for the meeting.

The embattled national secretary of the party, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, doubled down on Damagum’s earlier announcement by issuing a formal notice on Sunday, inviting selected stakeholders to what he described as a special expanded national caucus meeting scheduled for today at the NEC Hall of the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.

In the notice, Anyanwu stated that the meeting would begin at 2:00 p.m.and listed those expected to attend as statutory members of the national caucus, deputy national officers, Board of Trustees (BoT) members, all state chairmen, members of the PDP caucus in the National Assembly, former NWC members still in the party, national ex-officio members, former PDP governors still in the party and immediate past gubernatorial candidates who remain within the party.

He emphasised that attendance would be strictly by invitation.

Also speaking to Daily Trust yesterday, the National Organising Secretary (NOS), Umar Bature, said that what the party is holding is an expanded caucus meeting.

Responding to an inquiry from our correspondent, Bature said, in a terse text message: “Expanded Caucus Meeting.”

No going back on NEC meeting – NWC  members

In an apparent counter to Anyanwu’s notice, Deputy National Chairman (South), Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja, in a press conference in Abuja yesterday by the 11 NWC members, said the 100th NEC meeting would go on today as scheduled.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the National Working Committee (NWC) assures all party members that the 100th NEC meeting will proceed as scheduled tomorrow, Monday, 30th June, 2025 at the NEC Hall of the Wadata Plaza, PDP National Secretariat, Abuja,” the statement read.

According to Arapaja, the meeting will, among other things, receive updates on the activities of the Zoning Committee and the National Convention Organising Committee.

“As you are aware, the 100th meeting was unanimously scheduled by NEC at its 99th meeting held on Tuesday, 27th May, 2025.

“By virtue of Section 31(3) of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017), the Monday, 30th June, 2025 date for the 100th NEC meeting is binding on all organs and members, and as such no organ, group or officer of the party has the power to alter, change, vary, veto or convert the already convened NEC meeting.

“Contrary to a purported notice being circulated in the social media suggesting that the 100th NEC meeting has been converted to a Special Expanded National Caucus meeting, the NWC states in clear terms that the said notice did not emanate from the PDP and should be disregarded.

“The NWC emphasizes that there is no provision whatsoever for an ‘Expanded National Caucus’ in the Constitution of the PDP or any guideline of the party.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Section 30 of the Constitution of the PDP is unambiguous in providing for a National Caucus for the party with its composition, functions and meetings clearly spelt out, leaving no room for any form of expansion.

“The suggestion, proposal or announcement for a ‘Special Expanded National Caucus meeting’ is therefore unconstitutional and cannot take any decision for the PDP being not a recognised organ or body in the PDP.

“The PDP is a political party built on the foundation and pedestal of strict adherence to the rule of law, guided by the due process of our party constitution and the ethos of internal democracy, which values must be protected and preserved at all times.

“The NWC acknowledges the support and solidarity of the members of the PDP and reassures that the 100th NEC meeting and the National Convention will go on as scheduled by NEC.

Enugu gov backs NEC meeting

The governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah, has declared support for the position of the NWC, BoT and the South East Zonal Executive Committee (ZEC) on the ongoing crisis, saying he fully backed the NEC meeting scheduled for today.

Speaking to journalists in Enugu yesterday after a closed-door meeting with the governor of Oyo State, Makinde; PDP BoT chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara and South East Zonal Chairman, Chief Ali Odefa, among others, Mbah said he was fed up with the “shenanigans” turning the PDP into an “endless circus.”

“For the record, just as I stated during my interactive session with Fellows and Members of the Nigerian Guild of Editors in Enugu at the weekend, while I am still a member of the PDP, the South East—and that includes me—reserves the right to review our continued membership of the party if the party is unwilling to put its house in order.

“That was the position adopted during our last Southeast Zonal meeting here in Enugu. At that meeting, the caucus emphasised that the party must not disregard the zone’s position regarding the national secretaryship.”

“To all intents and purposes, this has obviously not been the case. So, there is no doubt as to where I stand. The position of the Southeast on the national secretaryship, as issued in the communiqué, is sacrosanct,” he said.

Also present at the meeting were former PDP National Chairman and BoT member, Dr Okwesilieze Nwodo; Senator Sam Egwu; Iyom Josephine Anenih; Senator Ben Obi and Hon. Udeh-Okoye, among others.

Anyanwu’s reinstatement as bone of contention

At the centre of the current crisis is the “reinstatement” of Anyanwu as national secretary by Damagum, along with his subsequent postponement of the NEC meeting and announcement of an expanded caucus gathering in its place. These decisions were objected to by 11 NWC members, who are backed by the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT).

The crisis has sharply divided the PDP’s key organs, including the NWC, the BoT and the governors’ forum, into two factions, aligned respectively with Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

Makinde and Wike are locked in a fierce battle for the control of the party ahead of the 2027 presidential election which is expected to intensify next year. While Makinde’s camp insists on removing Senator Anyanwu and holding the June 30 NEC meeting as scheduled, Wike’s camp supports Anyanwu’s reinstatement and postponement of the NEC.

Party sources told Daily Trust that Wike, though still in the PDP, is actively backing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election under the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the chagrin of some party leaders. Makinde, on the other hand, is believed to be positioning himself as a potential PDP presidential candidate in 2027 should the party zone its ticket to the south.

Once allies under the powerful G5 governors’ bloc that opposed Atiku Abubakar’s 2023 candidacy, Makinde and Wike are now on opposing sides, further deepening divisions within the party. The power struggle is playing out across the NWC and other influential structures.

Within the NWC, the 11 members are said to be aligned with Makinde and are determined to proceed with the NEC meeting today. This group is led by Deputy National Chairman (South), Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja and includes Hon. (Arc.) Setonji Koshoedo, the Deputy National Secretary who is also acting National Secretary; Hon. Ahmed Yayari Mohammed, National Treasurer; Sir Okechukwu Obiechina Daniel, National Auditor and Hon. Debo Ologunagba, National Publicity Secretary.

Others include 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, National Vice Chairman (North West) and Hon. Ajisafe Kamoru Toyese, National Vice Chairman (South West).

On the other hand, the Wike-Damagum faction includes Senator Anyanwu, National Organising Secretary Umar Bature, National Legal Adviser Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN), and National Youth Leader Suleiman Kadade.

Also aligned with the Damagum-Wike camp are six elected deputies of the NWC, who have described the opposing group as “merchants of instability who thrive on chaos.”

Hon. Timothy Osadolo (Youth), Hajia Maryam (Women), Ibrahim Abdullahi, Esq. (Publicity), Hon. D.U. Kamale (Finance), Okechukwu Osuoha, Esq. (Legal), and David Eneh Chubby (Treasurer) have issued a joint statement calling for reconciliation.

NEC and caucus to sit jointly as expanded caucus – Osadolor

Elder Timothy Osadolor, a member of the NEC, told Daily Trust yesterday that due to the gravity of internal issues, party leaders had agreed that both NEC and caucus members would sit jointly in what he described as an expanded caucus meeting.

“There’s nothing strange about an expanded caucus. It’s a mechanism to help resolve the party’s internal disputes,” he said.

“Today’s meeting will go ahead as planned. For those claiming it’s an NEC meeting, that’s not accurate—it’s an expanded caucus meeting.”

Osadolor said all relevant stakeholders had been notified, and many were already in Abuja.

He dismissed claims that 11 NWC members were united in opposition, stating that some had publicly distanced themselves from the group.

“If it were to be a traditional NEC meeting, a caucus meeting would have been held prior. NEC and caucus have different compositions. What we are doing now is merging both to deal with the urgency of the issues,” he said.

He noted that caucus members include party governors, selected NWC members, former governors, serving governors, and principal officers from the National Assembly.

“Normally, the caucus meets first, then joins the NEC. But given the sensitivity of the issues, we are expanding the caucus to include NEC members,” Osadolor said.

What we’re doing to reconcile PDP factions – Saraki

The chairman of the PDP Reconciliation Committee and former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, said the committee had been meeting with stakeholders to bridge gaps caused by feelings of exclusion among some members of the NWC.

Saraki, who spoke on Arise Television on Friday night, acknowledged that the recent Supreme Court judgement complicated matters but expressed confidence that the proposed expanded caucus meeting could help resolve the impasse.

“Our reconciliation has not hit a brick wall,” Saraki said in a television interview. “We want a smooth convention. But before we get there, we must first hold a proper NEC meeting—and to do that, we need clarity on who our national secretary is.”

He explained that while the secretaryship dispute predates the current crisis, it must be resolved to move forward. “Unfortunately, entrenched positions have made this difficult. The Supreme Court ruling hasn’t helped—it created more confusion.”

Saraki stated that an INEC meeting was sought for clarification, leading to last week’s engagement with the electoral body.

“INEC was clear: the secretary it recognises is Senator Anyanwu. Communications without his name are considered ineffective,” he said.

“This executive committee has only a few months left before the convention. Most of us felt that affirming Anyanwu as secretary was the safest and most responsible way forward.”

He called for dialogue with dissenting factions, especially the Southeast caucus, which opposes Anyanwu’s recognition. “Their concerns are valid and cannot be ignored. We must carry everyone along.”

Saraki, a former governor of Kwara State, also said PDP’s survival was vital to the health of Nigeria’s democracy.

“We’re working round the clock to prevent a one-party state. There are consequences for Nigeria if we don’t have a viable opposition,” he warned.

On the issue of NEC, he added, “Rest assured, there will be a stakeholders’ meeting. We’ve already spoken to key players. Some of the recent decisions were knee-jerk responses to a lack of inclusion.”

He emphasised the need to act within legal and regulatory frameworks to ensure the PDP can present candidates for the 2027 general elections.

“Some of the actions taken were necessary under the circumstances. By Monday, we’re confident the major issues will be resolved. We’ve got commitments. We’re making sure that no decision undermines the party’s readiness for 2027,” he said.