By Ameh Gabriel
Abuja, Nigeria – June 24, 2025
In a bid to resolve the prolonged leadership dispute over the position of National Secretary, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday held a high-level meeting with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
The PDP delegation, led by Acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum, included four serving governors and several senior party stakeholders. The meeting followed INEC’s recent rejection of the party’s notification for its proposed 100th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, scheduled for June 30, 2025, citing unresolved issues over the authentic holder of the National Secretary office.
In his opening remarks, Ambassador Damagum acknowledged the sensitive nature of the dispute, referencing existing legal proceedings, including a Supreme Court judgment. He emphasized that the PDP had taken a resolution through its NEC mandating him to formally engage INEC to seek clarity and avoid further controversy.
“We are here to interact with you sincerely. Our NEC took a decision, and I have communicated that to you. We also received your response, advising us to be guided by the necessary legal and procedural frameworks,” Damagum stated before the meeting moved behind closed doors.
In his response, INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to impartiality and engagement with all registered political parties. He noted discrepancies in the PDP’s communications regarding the National Secretary, highlighting multiple conflicting submissions that had named Senator Samuel Anyanwu, Sunday Udeh-Okoye, and Setonji Koshoedo for the same role.
“These inconsistencies are concerning and require clarity. Our role is regulatory, not political, and we expect internal party matters to be resolved according to established rules,” Yakubu said.
Tuesday’s meeting is viewed as a critical step in resolving the crisis that has stoked internal tensions within the PDP. In recent weeks, the dispute escalated when staff at the party’s national secretariat staged a protest against Senator Anyanwu’s claim to the position, further exposing divisions ahead of the NEC meeting.
The PDP delegation to INEC also included Governors Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau), Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), and Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), who is the chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum. Other prominent figures present were former Senate President Dr. Bukola Saraki, former Governors Ahmad Makarfi and Seriake Dickson, and former National Secretary Senator Ben Obi.
INEC’s letter dated June 13, which declined approval for the NEC meeting, cited procedural irregularities and the unresolved leadership question prompting the party’s outreach to the electoral umpire.
With the 2027 general elections looming, party insiders view the resolution of this internal dispute as pivotal to the PDP’s unity, credibility, and electoral preparedness. The outcome of the meeting is expected to set the tone for the party’s next steps and broader political strategy.
