…As Warring factions reach truce, Damagun leads NEC in Abuja

…Govs, NWC members unite behind Damagum’s leadership

…No factions, no coalitions, PDP is solidly united” – Bala Mohammed

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday, June 30, 2025, held its much-anticipated 100th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting amid internal chaos, factional standoffs, and intense political suspense, culminating in a unanimous resolution to reaffirm Senator Samuel Anyanwu as the party’s substantive National Secretary.

The meeting, which took place at the party’s national secretariat in Wadata Plaza, Abuja, was presided over by the Acting National Chairman, Amb. Umar Damagum, and witnessed the presence of all PDP governors, key members of the National Working Committee (NWC), Board of Trustees (BoT), and National Assembly caucus.

It marked a decisive move to end weeks of public disagreements, contradictory press statements, and power tussles that had threatened the fabric of Nigeria’s foremost opposition party.

Damagum, in his post-meeting briefing to newsmen, declared that the PDP has found common ground and resolved to move forward as a single, united bloc.

He confirmed that all factions had agreed to reinstate Senator Anyanwu in line with party rules and INEC procedures, stressing that the party’s internal mechanisms remain strong enough to withstand external and internal pressures.

He stated clearly, “We have all agreed that Senator Anyanwu will continue in his role as National Secretary. We will now convene the 101st NEC meeting on July 23, where both myself and Senator Anyanwu will jointly sign the required documentation for the upcoming national convention. This will satisfy INEC’s legal requirements.”

Tensions had peaked prior to the meeting when two separate factions of the NWC held parallel strategy meetings within the same premises on Sunday.

One group, loyal to Acting Secretary Setonji Koshoedo, included Deputy National Chairman (South) Taofeek Arapaja, South East Vice Chairman Ali Odefa, National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba, and several others.

They rejected Anyanwu’s reinstatement and insisted on proceeding with the NEC using Koshoedo’s mandate.

The opposing bloc, firmly backing Anyanwu’s return, was led by Damagum and supported by key figures such as National Organising Secretary Umar Bature, National Legal Adviser Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN), and prominent governors including Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau), Adamu Fintiri (Adamawa), and Kefas Agbu (Taraba).

Security operatives had earlier sealed off the PDP headquarters amid fears of violence or confrontation between the two camps.

This prompted emergency talks at the Bauchi Governor’s Lodge, where a unified resolution was reached to proceed with the NEC meeting as originally scheduled.

Meanwhile, The Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum and Governor of Bauchi State, Senator Bala Mohammed, lent powerful weight to the truce, delivering a clear and direct message that the PDP is no longer fragmented.

His speech at the NEC meeting drew a line under weeks of political brinkmanship, declaring that the PDP had weathered the storm and emerged more united than ever.

He said: “This is a miracle of the PDP,” Mohammed said boldly. “We are a party with pedigree and capacity to deliver Nigeria. We have navigated through challenges not created by us, but created for us. We’ve come out stronger. There are no factions, no coalitions. We are solidly united.”

He added that the National Working Committee had “collapsed all differences and wranglings,” confirming that the press wars and contradictory narratives that had dominated headlines in recent weeks had officially ended.

He said: “There is no more room for parallel stakeholders’ meetings or unofficial coalitions. We are all on the same page, and we are solidly behind the NWC. The state chapters are stable. That is where our strength lies.”

Governor Mohammed also dismissed reports of mass defections and disaffection as distractions aimed at weakening the party’s public image.

The truce appears to have stabilised the party at least for now with all PDP governors in attendance and standing behind the decisions taken during the session.

Also, the Makinde-led bloc, which includes governors Peter Mbah (Enugu), Douye Diri (Bayelsa), Ademola Adeleke (Osun) and Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), had previously opposed Anyanwu’s return, but gave no formal challenge during the final meeting.

Damagum, in his closing remarks, reinforced the message of unity, stating: “To those who thought this meeting would mark the end of the PDP, let it be known that we are stronger than ever. The PDP remains the only party with a functional internal crisis resolution mechanism. What you saw today is a testament to that.”