.11 NWC Members kick, signalling more trouble ahead
Nyesom Wike’s ally, Samuel Anyanwu, has been reinstated as the National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), marking a significant victory for the FCT Minister’s faction within the party. The decision was made public by PDP’s Acting National Chairman, Ambassador Iliya Damagum, during a press conference in Abuja.
The reinstatement follows a meeting between PDP leaders and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), where the electoral body urged the party to resolve its internal disputes. INEC warned that failure to do so could jeopardize the party’s participation in future elections.
According to Damagum, the decision to reinstate Anyanwu was challenging but ultimately accepted by the majority of party members. He announced that Anyanwu would resume his role as National Secretary and that the planned National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting would be replaced with an expanded Caucus.
However, not all members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) are in agreement with Anyanwu’s return. Eleven out of 19 NWC members have rejected the decision, stating that the Acting National Chairman lacks the authority to make such announcements without NEC’s approval.
The dissenting NWC members insist that the scheduled NEC meeting on June 30, 2025, will proceed as planned, contrary to Damagum’s announcement that it has been canceled. They argue that NEC’s decisions are binding, and no individual or organ within the party can override its resolutions.
This internal conflict within the PDP highlights the ongoing power struggles and divisions within the party. While the meeting with INEC may have provided temporary relief, the party’s ability to present a united front remains uncertain.
The PDP’s leadership faces a significant challenge in asserting its authority and resolving the internal disputes that have plagued the party. The outcome of this situation will likely have implications for the party’s performance in upcoming elections.
The reinstatement of Anyanwu is seen as a victory for Wike’s faction within the party. Wike has been a key figure in PDP politics, and his influence within the party is significant. The FCT Minister’s ability to secure Anyanwu’s reinstatement demonstrates his continued relevance within the party.
However, the opposition to Anyanwu’s return from some NWC members suggests that there are still deep-seated divisions within the party. The dissenting members argue that the Acting National Chairman’s announcement lacks constitutional basis and that NEC’s decisions cannot be overridden by any individual or organ within the party.
The PDP’s constitution clearly outlines the roles and responsibilities of its various organs, including NEC and the NWC. According to the constitution, NEC is the highest decision-making body after the National Convention, and its decisions are binding on all party members and structures.
The dissenting NWC members are insisting that the party’s constitution be upheld and that NEC’s decisions be respected. They argue that any attempts to override NEC’s resolutions would be unconstitutional and would further destabilize the party.
The crisis within the PDP continues to deepen, with the party’s leadership struggling to assert its authority. The meeting between the PDP and INEC appears to have brought temporary relief to the party, but the internal conflicts and power struggles within the party are far from over.
The party’s ability to present a united front and contest upcoming elections effectively remains to be seen.
Insiders maintain that PDP’s leadership must find a way to resolve its internal disputes and assert its authority if the party is to succeed in its future endeavours.
Said a party source: “ Head or tail, the reinstatement of Samuel Anyanwu as PDP National Secretary has sparked even further controversy within the party. While the decision may have been seen as a victory for Wike’s faction, it has also highlighted the deep-seated divisions within the party. The PDP’s leadership faces a significant challenge in resolving its internal disputes and asserting its authority. The outcome of this situation will likely have implications for the party’s performance in upcoming elections,” he said.