The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) met with the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) governors and National Working Committee (NWC) in Abuja today, June 24, to address a pressing issue: who holds the official position of PDP’s National Secretary.
Acting PDP Chairman Umar Damagum explained that the meeting was prompted by INEC’s letter dated June 13, which pointed out that PDP’s notice for its 100th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting scheduled for June 30 was improperly signed only by the Acting Chairman, without the National Secretary’s signature as required by INEC regulations.
INEC noted that past notices had always been signed by both the Chairman and Secretary .
INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu spoke further on the need for clarity, stating that in recent months, INEC had received conflicting letters signed by different individuals claiming to be the PDP Secretary sometimes Anyanwu, sometimes Okoye, other times Koshoedo, and even letters without any Secretary’s signature .
He added that the commission must know who is officially recognized before the party proceeds with its NEC meeting.
Governor Bala Mohammed, along with other PDP governors like Seyi Makinde, Caleb Mutfwang, and Dauda Lawal, attended the meeting, alongside former Senate President Bukola Saraki, former Kaduna Governor Ahmed Makarfi, Senate Minority Leader Abba Moro, former Bayelsa Governor Seriake Dickson, and PDP Organizing Secretary Umar Bature .
After closed-door discussions, Damagum described the meeting as “very fruitful” and said PDP would brief its broader stakeholders on the outcome and get back to INEC before June 30 .
The core of the disagreement arises from a longstanding legal tussle over whether Senator Samuel Nnaemeka Anyanwu or Udeh Okoye is the rightful PDP Secretary.
INEC is demanding a clear, official designation signed appropriately to meet procedural requirements.
