There is heightened tension within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as rival factions prepare to hold separate meetings today in Abuja.
The bone of contention remains the disputed position of National Secretary and whether the party’s 100th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting will proceed as scheduled.
Two camps—one aligned with Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, and the other with Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike—have emerged in opposition over the direction of the party and the fate of Senator Samuel Anyanwu, whose return as National Secretary is being contested.
At the centre of the chaos is a decision taken at the 99th NEC meeting in May, which scheduled the 100th NEC for June 30.
However, last week, Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum announced a postponement of the NEC meeting and reinstated Anyanwu as National Secretary.
This move sparked immediate resistance from 11 of 18 National Working Committee (NWC) members, who declared Damagum’s announcement invalid and reaffirmed their support for Setonji Koshoedo as Acting National Secretary.
The Makinde camp, supported by governors Peter Mbah (Enugu), Douye Diri (Bayelsa), Ademola Adeleke (Osun), and Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), among others, is pushing forward with the NEC as originally planned. This group insists the party must stick to its resolutions to maintain order and credibility.
On the opposing side, the Wike camp—including Governors Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau), Kefas Agbu (Taraba), Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), and Adamawa’s Ahmadu Fintiri—argues that the meeting should be converted into a special expanded National Caucus session to address broader issues within the party before any NEC gathering.
According to reports, preparations for the NEC have already been finalised by the Makinde-aligned faction. Meeting invitations have been sent out, accreditation documents printed, and logistics arranged. They argue that the NEC, being the second-highest decision-making body after the National Convention, holds constitutional authority that cannot be overridden by any individual or group.
Meanwhile, Damagum and his allies contend that due process has not been followed. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had previously declined to recognise communication from the party leadership on the NEC because it lacked the co-signature of both the National Chairman and National Secretary, as required by the PDP constitution. INEC also confirmed that Anyanwu is still officially recognised in its records.
This dispute has created a polarised leadership, with both factions claiming legitimacy.
One meeting was held Sunday afternoon at Wadata Plaza, led by Damagum and attended by Anyanwu, Organising Secretary Umar Bature, and Legal Adviser Kamaldeen Ajibade, where they reaffirmed support for the National Caucus meeting. Later in the evening, 11 other NWC members, including Deputy Chairman (South) Taofeek Arapaja, Vice Chairman (South East) Ali Odefa, and National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba, declared that the NEC would proceed today with Koshoedo as Acting Secretary.
According to party insiders, the Board of Trustees (BoT) is also meeting today to address the growing turmoil. Several senior figures have voiced frustration with the crisis, noting that the party’s ability to present itself as a viable opposition ahead of the 2027 elections is being seriously undermined.
Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu expressed concern about the party’s current trajectory, stating his support for the NEC and the South East Zonal Executive Committee’s (ZEC) position.
He warned that if the party fails to honour the South East’s demands regarding the secretaryship, members from the zone might reconsider their allegiance to the PDP.