PDP Leaders, Governors Take Dispute Over National Secretary Before INEC

A delegation of the national leaders and governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Tuesday, approached the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to resolve disputes over the party’s National Secretary.

The delegation was led by the PDP Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum.

Others include Governors Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Dauda Lawal (Zamfara) and Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau).

Also in the delegation were former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Senator Ben Obi, former governors of Kaduna and Bayelsa states, Ahmed Makarfi and Seriake Dickson respectively among others.

They were received by INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu and other top officials of the commission.

Addressing the INEC chairman, Damagun said the party stakeholders were at the commission to seek clarification on a letter sent to the PDP by the INEC.

The said INEC letter, which was addressed to the PDP chairman, was in response to an earlier one sent to the INEC informing the commission of the party’s decision to hold its 100th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on June 30, 2025.

The PDP’s letter was signed by the party’s chairman only, without being co-signed by the National Secretary as specified in INEC’s rules and guidelines.

In response, INEC had replied that the PDP chairman’s lone signature on the latter was insconsistent with established, which could void decisions that might be taken at the meeting.

The commission had insisted that the letter be co-signed by the National Secretary before it could be deemed valid.

Responding, INEC chairman Yakubu said the meeting was at the instance of the PDP leadership. He emphasised the commission’s duty in ensuring clarity on party leadership positions.

“For the 99 previous NEC meetings, the commission received letters signed by both the National Chairman and the National Secretary. However, this time, the letter bore only the chairman’s signature, prompting the need for clarification.

“Sometime ago, the commission received a letter from the party stating that one Udeh-Okoye is the National Secretary. After that, we received another letter that said it was Senator Anyanwu. The party changed its mind and said it was one Setonji Kodoesho Again, the party changed its mind and said it is Senator Anyanwu

“We are the regulators of political parties, and when we go into the working session, I hope we will fully understand where you are coming from and what you expect from us as the registrar and regulators of political parties,” Yakubu said.

According to him, it has become imperative to clarify and resolve the controversy over the PDP National Secretary.

The Supreme Court, in a ruling a few months ago, had stated that the leadership tussle in the PDP was internal affairs of the party and that the party should resolve them through internal conflict resolution mechanism.

The main opposition party has been embroiled in crisis over the position of national secretary.

The camp of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike is insisting on Anyanwu for the office.

Stakeholders in the Southeast, led by Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State, are insisting on having Sunday Udeh-Okoye on the seat.

The PDP Governors Forum on the other hand, has thrown its weight behind Setonji Koshoedo.

The meeting was still ongoing as of the time of filing this report.

PDP Leaders, Governors Take Dispute Over National Secretary Before INEC is first published on The Whistler Newspaper