Nigerian Concord Newspaper
This is certainly not the best time for the People’s Democratic Party at the national level over the purported reinstatement of the embattled National Secretary of the party, Senator Samuel Anyanwu by the acting national chairman, Mr. Umar Damagun.
Ambassador Damagun had earlier today addressed a press conference where he directed Anyanwu to resume back to duty as the national Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party.
Damagun was acting on a statement by the Independent National Electoral Commission that any correspondence from the party that doesn’t have the signature of Anyanwu would not be entertained by the electoral body.
But in a swift reaction, eleven members of the party’s NWC issued a statement where they rejected the purported reinstatement of the embattled National Secretary.
The statement reads:
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 canceled 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)
Meanwhile, the FCT minister, Mr. Nyemson Wike has tonguelashed Ambassador Damagun over his statement that Anyanwu should resume back to work.
In his speech, Wike said Anyanwu isn’t Damagun’s appointee so he has no right to direct him to resume back to work.