The Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has strongly rejected the actions of Acting National Chairman, Amb. Umar Damagum, declaring his attempt to cancel the party’s 100th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting as unconstitutional and void.
In a sharp rebuke, BoT Chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara, said:
“The pronouncements by the Acting National Chairman are null, void and of no effect, being inconsistent and in gross violation of the Constitution of the PDP.”
The controversy erupted after Damagum announced the cancellation of the long-scheduled NEC meeting and declared Senator Samuel Anyanwu reinstated as National Secretary. The announcement, however, was met with swift opposition from the BoT, the PDP National Ex-Officio Forum, and a majority of the National Working Committee (NWC), who insisted that the NEC meeting scheduled for Monday, June 30, 2025, must proceed.
The BoT reaffirmed that Setonji Koshoedo remains the party’s Acting National Secretary, a decision previously ratified by the NWC. Wabara emphasized that the resolution from the 99th NEC meeting held on May 27 to reconvene on June 30 is binding and cannot be overturned by any individual.
“No individual or organ of the party has the authority to override the NEC’s resolution. The NEC is the highest decision-making body after the National Convention,” Wabara added.
In a separate statement, the PDP National Ex-Officio Forum, led by Faboyede Clement and Comfort Yassan, condemned Damagum’s announcement as a betrayal of the party’s internal processes and resolutions.
“The Acting National Chairman’s press release is embarrassing and a disservice to members who attended and agreed on the June 30 NEC date at the 99th meeting,” they stated.
The forum backed the majority of the NWC members who rejected Damagum’s move and denounced Anyanwu as a divisive figure whose return would destabilize the party further.
“Anyanwu has become a national destabilisation factor. We fully support his continued exclusion,” their statement read.
Although the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) previously refused to acknowledge the NEC notice due to procedural issues with signatories, PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, clarified that INEC's role is limited to receiving such notices—not validating them.
However, Damagum disassociated the party from Ologunagba’s statement, calling it premature and personal.
Despite the ongoing tension, the BoT has urged all NEC members to disregard any contrary information and attend the June 30 meeting, which they say is crucial to stabilising the party amid growing internal crises since 2015.
“The BoT, being the conscience of the party, will not watch PDP descend into chaos through acts of impunity and disregard for constitutional procedures,” Wabara warned.
As the date approaches, the fate of the NEC meeting hangs in the balance, with opposing factions digging in and the party’s unity at stake.