As the crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party deepens, the dispute over the National Secretary position and the party’s upcoming 100th National Executive Committee meeting are expected to dominate discussions when PDP governors meet with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) today in Abuja.

According to INEC’s letter dated June 18 and signed by the commission’s acting Secretary, Halliru Aminu, which was exclusively obtained by The PUNCH, the meeting is scheduled to hold on Tuesday (today) at 2pm in the electoral body’s Conference Hall.

This is as reliable multiple sources within the PDP National Working Committee told our correspondent that during the meeting, the issue of the National Secretary would be revisited, while the governors, along with other party leaders, would work to resolve the controversy surrounding the letter concerning the 100th NEC meeting.

Once Nigeria’s leading political force, the PDP has faced persistent setbacks since its 2015 defeat in the presidential poll, struggling with internal leadership disputes, defections, and unresolved congress issues across the regions.

A key flashpoint has been the tussle over the position of National Secretary between Sunday Udeh-Okoye and Senator Samuel Anyanwu, who is backed by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike. This power struggle has further widened internal divisions and caused repeated delays in holding NEC meetings.

In a bid to restore order, the party named Setonji Koshoedo as acting National Secretary. However, a fact-finding committee chaired by Taraba State Governor, Kefas Agbu, discovered that INEC officially recognised Anyanwu as the legitimate secretary.

Subsequently, the PDP’s 99th NEC meeting fixed for June 30th for its 100th NEC session, and on May 30, acting National Chairman Umar Damagum issued a formal notice to INEC, who rejected the communication, citing its requirement that such notices must be jointly signed by both the national chairman and national secretary, and urged the party to follow proper procedures.

Responding to INEC’s stance, PDP Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba, in a press conference on Sunday, stated that under the Nigerian law and the party’s constitution, INEC’s role was limited to receiving notification of conventions, congresses, or primaries involving the election of party officers or candidates.

He stated, “INEC has no role in the regular meetings of the NWC or NEC. These are internal party matters, as clearly established by the Supreme Court in numerous rulings.

“INEC cannot cancel our meetings. It is the party’s prerogative to decide such matters. INEC has no authority to do so. We are planning to hold our meeting as scheduled, if anything changes we will brief you.”

In its letter addressed to the PDP acting National Chairman and titled “Re: Request for Audience with the Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission,” INEC declined the governors’ proposed date and instead scheduled the meeting for today.

The letter read “Your letter Ref. PDP/DOM/GF.2/VIL.ID/25-093 dated 17th June 2025 on the above subject refers.

“The Commission is constrained to inform you that the requested date for the meeting is not convenient. However, we propose that the meeting should hold as follows.

“Date: Tuesday, 24th June 2025, Venue: Commission’s Conference Hall, Time: 2:00pm.

One of our sources stated that the meeting with party leaders was expected to address and resolve the outstanding issues concerning the National Secretary and the upcoming 100th NEC meeting.

He stated, “Of course, the meeting is about the National Secretary and the 100th NEC meeting. The governors and other party leaders will determine who INEC recognises as the National Secretary. The recent letters exchanged between the party and the Commission regarding the NEC meeting will also be discussed.

“It is expected that the party leaders will return well-informed, which will help in resolving some of the issues within the party.”

In a related development, acting Chairman of the PDP, Umar Damagum, disassociated the party from remarks made by its National Publicity Secretary, Ologunagba, asserting that the Independent National Electoral Commission had no authority to halt the party’s 100th National Executive Committee meeting.

In a statement on Monday, Damagum clarified that the PDP leadership did not sanction Ologunagba’s statement, describing it as premature and made without proper consultation.

He stated, “My attention, as the Ag. National Chairman of the PDP has been drawn to a recent press interactions comments made by our National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, concerning the Party’s scheduled 100th National Executive Committee meeting and the purported position of the Party regarding communications from the INEC.

“Let me clearly and unequivocally state that the comment by Hon. Debo Ologunagba was made without the authority or approval of the National Working Committee of our great Party. The comments was made prematurely and without due consultation, especially in light of the fact that a meeting has already been scheduled for Tuesday, 24th June 2025 between the party leaders, stakeholder, the Ag. National Chairman of PDP and the Chairman of INEC to address the concerns raised in the letter sent to our Party.

“It is shocking and unfortunate that such a sensitive matter was addressed publicly without recourse to establish internal processes or the leadership of the Party. In my capacity as the Ag. National Chairman, I wish to make it categorically clear that the views expressed by Hon. Ologunagba in that press interactions are entirely his personal opinions and do not represent the official position of the PDP.”

Damagum expressed regret, noting that it wasn’t the first time Ologunagba was acting independently, ignoring the party’s collective decision-making process.

He stressed that while the PDP was determined to protect its internal independence and push back against external interference, it must approach this in a unified and responsible way.

He stated, “The PDP remains committed to conducting its 100th NEC meeting in accordance with constitutional provisions and democratic norms. However, we will do so with collective consensus and proper coordination, not through the lens of personal posturing. (The PUNCH)