It is still unclear whether the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will proceed with its meeting scheduled for tomorrow in Abuja.

The party’s acting National Chairman, Umar Ilyas Damagum, chairman of the Reconciliation Committee, Dr.Bukola Saraki and several other stakeholders are understood to be working round the clock to shelve the meeting for now to save the party from further jeopardy.

Sources told The Nation yesterday that they had intensified consultations in the last few days to resolve the party’s unending crisis.

Their efforts appeared to be yielding fruits as some of those opposed to the postponement of the meeting are said to be soft pedaling.

These include the party’s National Vice Chairman (North West), Senator Bello Hayatu Gwarzo and the National Treasurer, Hon. Ahmed Yayari, both of whom withdrew from the 11-member anti-Damagum/Anyanwu group of PDP National Working Committee members who joined the party’s spokesman, Debo Ologunagba and Deputy National Secretary, Setonji Koshoedo to condemn the reinstatement of the party’s National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu.

Anyanwu, who turned 60 yesterday, was joined by several party leaders at the International Conference Center, Abuja to celebrate the occasion.

Sources said they used the opportunity to discuss the state of affairs of the PDP.

A source blamed party members who are on their way to the coalition party, being put together ahead of 2027, for the stalemate in the PDP.

“The coalition agenda is at the heart of our problems because those who plan to leave, including a very top person in PDP BoT, also want to do everything to ensure that potential 2027 candidates end up contesting only on the platform of their new party,” the source said.

The source said the Saraki committee set up by the PDP Governors’ Forum has been having private consultations with key stakeholders towards resolving some of the contentious issues and “ it is making good progress.”

Yayari pledged support for the Damagum-led National Working Committee, which recognizes Anyanwu as National Secretary of the PDP.

Another group comprising those holding deputy official positions within the PDP NWC also endorsed Damagum’s support of the Supreme Court verdict on the issue of National Secretary.

The group’s position Is in contrast to that of the Deputy National Secretary, Setonji Koshoedo, party spokesman, Debo Ologunagba and nine others who are opposed to the reinstatement of Anyanwu and the deferment of the NEC meeting.

Deputy National Youth Leader, Timothy Osadolor, dismissed the insistence of the anti-Damagum group to proceed with the Monday NEC meeting as a joke.

“They are just joking”, he said in response to a text message from The Nation.

He wondered how a few NWC members could convene a NEC meeting without the party’s acting national chairman, National Secretary, Board of Trustees’ Secretary, Chairman of PDP Governors’ Forum and others who have publicly supported Damagum’s statement on the issue.

Aside from Osadolor, other members of the group of PDP national deputies backing Damagum and supporting the call to cancel Monday’s NEC meeting are the party’ s Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Ibrahim Abdullahi; the Deputy National Legal Adviser, Okechukwu Osuoha; the Deputy National Women Leader, Hajia Maryam; the Deputy National Financial Secretary, D.U. Kamale, and; the Deputy National Treasurer, David Eneh Chubby.

Ologunagba and others said on Wednesday that tomorrow’s meeting must take place with or without Damagum, Anyanwu, Chairman of PDP Governors’ Forum, Bala Mohammed, Board of Trustees’ Secretary, Senator Ahmed Makarfi and other party leaders who joined Damagum to announce the reinstatement of Anyanwu and cancellation of the NEC meeting.

They said: “The pronouncements by the Acting National Chairman have no foundation as no organ of the Party (includeing the NWC), individual or group has the power to cancel, overrule, veto or vary the resolution of the National Executive Committee (NEC) under the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017).

“For the avoidance of doubt, the NEC is the highest decision-making organ of the party, second only to the National Convention; by virtue of Section 31 (3) of the PDP Constitution, the resolution of the NEC to hold its 100th meeting on Monday 30th June, 2025 is binding on all organs, officers, chapters and members of the party and no organ, group or individual can vary or veto this resolution of NEC.

“In the light of the foregoing, the 100th NEC meeting as scheduled for Monday, 30th June, 2025 has not been cancelled or postponed.”

The PDP Board of Trustees is also split on whether the NEC should go ahead with the meeting tomorrow or not.

Secretary of the board , Senator Ahmed Makarfi, was one of top party leaders who joined Damagum at his press conference where he announced the postponement of the NEC meeting,while the Chairman of the BoT, Senator Adolphus Wabara insisted that the meeting must take place by all means.

He declared the pronouncements of the Acting National Chairman null, void and of no effect, being inconsistent and in gross violation of the express provisions of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017).

He said: “for the avoidance of doubt, the National Executive Committee (NEC) is the highest decision-making Organ of the Party, second only to the National Convention; by virtue of Section 31 (3) of the PDP Constitution, the resolution of the NEC at its 99th NEC meeting held on Tuesday, 27th May, 2025 to hold its 100th meeting on Monday, 30th June, 2025 is binding on all Organs and members of the PDP.

“To this effect, being a NEC decision, no organ, group or individual has the power or competence to cancel, adjust or postpone the 100th NEC meeting already scheduled by NEC to hold on Monday, 30th June, 2025; it is therefore not within the remit or authority of the Acting National Chairman, to override a collective decision of the NEC. Such conduct amounts to an affront to the constitutional authority of NEC and the collective will of our Party.”

On the status of Anyanwu,Wabara said: “ the statement purporting to reinstate Senator Samuel Anyanwu as National Secretary is equally spurious and offensive to the spirit and letter of the PDP Constitution, the outcome of the Supreme Court judgment and the resolution of NEC.

“The decision of the National Working Committee (NWC) at its 600th meeting directing the Deputy National Secretary to act as National Secretary in accordance with the extant powers of the NWC remains valid, having not been set aside by the NWC or NEC; the attempt by Amb. Damagum to overturn that decision is a gross abuse of office.

“The Board of Trustees, being the conscience of the Party cannot stand idly by and watch the Party descend into chaos through acts of impunity, unilateralism and disregard for constitutional procedures. As such, the BoT hereby affirms the following:

The 100th NEC Meeting shall proceed as scheduled on Monday, 30th June, 2025. All members of NEC are duly advised to disregard any contradictory notice or statement regarding the 100th NEC meeting;

The Deputy National Secretary, Arch. Setonji Koshoedo remains the Acting National Secretary of the PDP pending any contrary decision formally taken and communicated by the appropriate Organ of the Party;

All party members are advised to be guided by the supremacy of the Constitution of the PDP, and resist any attempt to drag the party into avoidable crisis.

“The BoT reiterates that no individual interest is greater than the institutional integrity of the PDP; the BoT, as the moral compass of the party, will continue to defend due process, uphold Party supremacy and protect the democratic ethos upon which the PDP is founded,” Wabara added.

Constitution

Slated for discussion at the NEC meeting is the nomination of Hon Sunday Udeh-Okoye to replace Anyanwu as National Secretary by the South East Zone of the party.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) requires the parties to serve it a 21-day notice of its NEC meetings.

Such letter must be signed by both the National Chairman and the party’s National Secretary.

The guidelines state thus:

(1) “Every Political Party shall give the Commission at least 21 days’ notice through a dedicated portal created for that purpose by the Commission of any Convention, Congress, Conference or meeting convened for the purpose of merger and electing members of its national executive committees, other governing bodies or nominating candidates for any of the elective offices specified in the electoral act 2022.A hard copy of the notice may be submitted to the Commission through a registered mail.

(2) The notice shall indicate the purpose, venue, date, time and mode (whether virtual or in person) of the Convention, Congress or meeting

(3) The National Chairman and National Secretary of the Political party shall jointly sign the notice of Convention, Congress, Conference or Meeting and submit same to the Commission. (The Nation)