PDP reaffirms Anyanwu as National Secretary amid internal tensions

Summary

• NEC endorses Senator Samuel Anyanwu’s reinstatement following Supreme Court ruling
• Move aims to stabilise party ahead of 2027 elections but faces internal resistance
• South-East discontent and factional rifts threaten broader unity efforts

Abuja, Nigeria – The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has officially reaffirmed Senator Samuel Nnaemeka Anyanwu as its National Secretary, resolving a long-standing internal leadership dispute during the party’s 100th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on 30 June 2025 in Abuja.

The decision, announced by Acting National Chairman Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum, follows a March 2025 Supreme Court ruling that overturned previous judgments removing Anyanwu from office. The court ruled that disputes over party offices are internal matters and must be resolved through the PDP’s constitution. This verdict effectively reinstated Anyanwu and brought an end to the legal wrangling triggered by his 2023 governorship bid in Imo State.

The NEC’s unanimous endorsement of Anyanwu’s return was described by Damagum as a “bitter pill” but necessary for party cohesion and compliance with legal frameworks. Anyanwu has been mandated to withdraw all pending court cases and refrain from interfering in the PDP’s National Elective Convention, now scheduled for August 2025.

Despite this official endorsement, the decision has laid bare deep-seated rifts within the party. On 25 June, eleven of the nineteen National Working Committee (NWC) members, led by Deputy National Chairman (South) Taofeek Arapaja and Acting Secretary Setonji Koshoedo, opposed Damagum’s unilateral actions. They insisted that only the NEC, not the Acting Chairman, had the authority to make such decisions and pushed for the original meeting to proceed as planned.

The controversy also reflects broader factional tensions, particularly between the camps of Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, a known ally of Anyanwu, and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, who backed Sunday Ude-Okoye as the rightful secretary. Wike’s influence was evident in a high-level PDP stakeholder meeting on 10 June 2025, which reinforced support for Anyanwu.

Reactions from the South-East have been particularly critical. The Coalition of South East Youth Leaders (COSEYL) accused the PDP of marginalising the region and ignoring its demands, including the call to zone the 2023 presidential ticket to the South-East. The group urged regional leaders to explore alternative political alignments ahead of the 2027 elections.

While prominent figures like Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed and former Senate President Bukola Saraki have backed the NEC’s decision as a step towards unity, the continued dissent from party organs like the NWC and the Board of Trustees (BoT) underscores the fragile nature of that unity. The BoT, initially opposed to Damagum’s announcement, has since been largely overruled, though it continues to call for adherence to constitutional processes.

Political analysts view the reaffirmation as a strategic move to stabilise the party and improve its standing before the 2027 general elections. With Anyanwu now recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the PDP reduces its risk of legal challenges and enhances its ability to organise a compliant and credible National Convention.

However, significant hurdles remain. Internal divisions, particularly those rooted in regional grievances and factional rivalries, threaten to derail the PDP’s effort to present a united front against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). As the PDP prepares for its July 23 NEC meeting and the August Convention, the management of these tensions will be critical to its electoral ambitions.