Security operatives block PDP BoT from meeting at party HQ

Security forces have blocked members of the board of trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from meeting at the party headquarters in Abuja.

Security operatives prevented members of the BoT from entering the national executive committee (NEC) hall to hold their meeting on Monday morning.

The BoT has now moved the meeting to the Yar’Adua Centre in the Central Business District, Abuja.

On June 26, the BoT kicked against the pronouncement of Samuel Anyanwu as national secretary of the PDP.

The BoT had also accused Umar Damagum, acting national chairman of the party, of “gross abuse of office” for making the announcement.

BACKGROUND

The crisis within the opposition party recently took a new turn.

During a press conference last Wednesday, Damagum affirmed Anyanwu as the party’s national secretary.

Present at the briefing were Bala Mohammed, governor of Bauchi and chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum; Abba Moro, senator representing Benue south and minority leader of the senate; along with other party officials.

Damagum also announced that the meeting initially scheduled for June 30 has been cancelled and that an expanded caucus meeting will be held instead.

Anyanwu was affirmed after members of the PDP NWC and several governors met with Mahmood Yakubu, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and other senior officials.

However, in a joint statement, 11 NWC members said Anyanwu was not reinstated as the party’s scribe and that the NEC meeting will be held on June 30.

The PDP board of trustees (BoT) also rejected Anyanwu’s affirmation and rescheduling of the NEC meeting by Damagum.

Adolphus Wabara, PDP BoT chairman, said Damagum’s cancellation of the NEC meeting was an “abuse of office”.

Anyanwu, Sunday Udeh-Okoye, and Setonji Koshoedo have each laid claim to the PDP national secretary position.

TheCable understands that party members insisting that the NEC meeting must hold today include Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo; Peter Mbah, his Enugu counterpart; and 11 members of the NWC.

Those backing the national caucus meeting are Bala Mohammed, governor of Bauchi and chairman of the PDP Governors Forum; Damagum; Umar Bature, national organising secretary; and Kamaldeen Ajibade, national legal adviser.

‘NEC HOLDS TODAY’

Addressing a press conference on Sunday, Taofeek Arapaja, deputy national chairman (south), who was flanked by members of the NWC, said the NEC will be held today.

He said, among other things, the NEC will receive updates on the activities of the zoning committee and the national convention organising committee.

“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,” he said.

“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 emphasises 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.”