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A wave of confusion has hit the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the National Working Committee (NWC) has publicly disowned a press briefing by the party’s Acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum, insisting that neither the scheduled National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting has been cancelled nor Senator Samuel Anyanwu reinstated as National Secretary.

The contradiction, laid bare in two opposing statements from the same party leadership, has thrown the PDP into disarray just days ahead of its crucial 100th NEC meeting slated for Monday, June 30, 2025.

In his press briefing on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, Damagum reportedly announced the cancellation of the NEC meeting and the reinstatement of Senator Anyanwu as the party’s National Secretary—a move that stunned many within the party and the public alike.

However, in a swift counter-statement signed by senior NWC officials, the committee rebuked Damagum’s announcement, describing it as unconstitutional, misleading, and a direct affront to the authority of the NEC—the party’s highest decision-making body after the National Convention.

“The pronouncements by the Acting National Chairman have no foundation,” the NWC stated. “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).”

They further emphasized that NEC resolutions are binding on all arms and members of the party, and referenced Section 31(3) of the PDP Constitution to support their claim.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the NEC is the highest decision-making Organ of the Party, second only to the National Convention,” the statement stressed, underscoring that the 100th NEC meeting remains firmly scheduled for June 30.

On the controversial issue of Senator Anyanwu’s role, the NWC clarified: “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.”

They added that the 99th NEC meeting had already resolved to defer all decisions regarding the National Secretary’s position to the next NEC sitting.

The statement was jointly signed by top-ranking PDP officials including Deputy National Chairman (South) Amb. Taofeek Arapaja, Acting National Secretary Hon. (Arc) Setonji Koshoedo, National Treasurer Hon. Ahmed Yayari Mohammed, National Publicity Secretary Hon. Debo Ologunagba, National Financial Secretary Dr. Woyengikuro Daniel, and others.

The mixed signals from within the party hierarchy have now deepened the ongoing leadership crisis and exposed widening cracks in the PDP’s top ranks.

Party insiders say the situation reflects a growing power struggle that threatens to derail unity ahead of critical decisions on the party’s future.

“What we’re seeing is unprecedented,” said one high-ranking PDP member who requested anonymity. “Two power centers in the same party giving contradictory orders—this is more than confusion; it’s a leadership vacuum.”

As tensions escalate, many observers fear that the credibility of the June 30 NEC meeting, already viewed as pivotal for party realignment, could be marred by the unresolved conflict.

Meanwhile, rank-and-file members are left in limbo, unsure of which directive to follow and which faction truly speaks for the party.

The PDP leadership has yet to issue a unified clarification, further fueling speculation that the crisis could spiral into a full-blown factional split if not urgently addressed.

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