With multiple factions pulling in different directions, critical decisions unresolved, and former members making it the butt of snide remarks, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which continues to face mounting crisis that threatens its cohesion ahead of key elections, is grappling with fresh internal turmoil.<\/p>\n
Its National Working Committee (NWC) is again sharply divided over the reinstatement of Senator Samuel Anyanwu as National Secretary and the suspension of the party\u2019s 100th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting.<\/p>\n
Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, announced on Tuesday the reinstatement of Anyanwu following consultations with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). At a press briefing in Abuja, Damagum described the decision as a “bitter pill” the party had to swallow, citing INEC\u2019s advisory and the urgency of the upcoming FCT elections.<\/p>\n
\u201cINEC is our regulator and has made its position clear. The National Secretary is a key signatory of the party, and we cannot risk complications at this critical time. After consultations, we resolved to abide by INEC\u2019s advice,\u201d Damagum stated. He also announced the suspension of the PDP\u2019s 100th NEC meeting, originally scheduled for June 30.<\/p>\n
However, this move has sparked backlash from a faction within the party\u2019s leadership. In a joint statement signed by 12 top PDP officials, including Deputy National Chairman (South) Taofeek Arapaja, Acting National Secretary Hon. Setonji Koshoedo, and National Treasurer Ahmed Mohammed, the group declared Damagum\u2019s actions \u201cnull and void.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to the dissenting members, the resolution to hold the 100th NEC meeting was taken during the 99th NEC meeting and cannot be unilaterally overturned.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo organ or individual within the PDP has the authority to cancel or vary NEC resolutions. Section 31(3) of the party\u2019s constitution makes this clear,\u201d the statement read. \u201cSenator Anyanwu\u2019s status as National Secretary is to be determined by the NEC, not through any acting chairman\u2019s directive.\u201d<\/p>\n
Others who signed the statement include National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba, National Auditor Okechukwu Daniel, and National Vice Chairmen from the South East and South West, among others.<\/p>\n
Further complicating the party’s woes, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike criticised Damagum\u2019s directive, asserting that Anyanwu had continued functioning in his role and did not need to be \u201creinstated.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe National Secretary has been working. He doesn\u2019t need anyone to tell him to resume duty,\u201d Wike remarked, dismissing the move as a result of \u201cignorance of the law.\u201d<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, speaking on behalf of President Bola Tinubu during the commissioning of a new road interchange in Abuja, urged the PDP to resolve its internal conflict. He emphasised that the President supports a vibrant opposition to strengthen democracy.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou got yourselves into this confusion\u2014get out of it quickly. President Tinubu is interested in a vibrant opposition,\u201d Akpabio said. He also pointed to similar fractures within the Labour Party (LP), announcing the defection of Sen. Neda Imasuen from the LP to the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying the LP\u2019s internal disarray mirrored broader issues within Nigeria\u2019s opposition.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
With multiple factions pulling in different directions, critical decisions unresolved, and former members making it the butt of snide remarks, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which continues to face mounting crisis that threatens its cohesion ahead of key elections, is grappling with fresh internal turmoil. Its National Working Committee (NWC) is again sharply divided over […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":92431,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,8],"tags":[22,334,742],"class_list":["post-94251","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-news","category-politics","tag-akpabio","tag-pdp","tag-wike"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/everyday.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/94251","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/everyday.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/everyday.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/everyday.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/everyday.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=94251"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/everyday.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/94251\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/everyday.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/92431"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/everyday.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=94251"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/everyday.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=94251"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/everyday.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=94251"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}