The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) finds itself at yet another political crossroads as internal wrangling threatens to unravel the fragile peace it has worked to restore post-2023 general elections. The Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) confirmation of Senator Samuel Anyanwu as the legitimate National Secretary—despite efforts by anti-Wike governors to oust him—has placed the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) under intense pressure and deepened the factional fault lines within Nigeria’s main opposition party.
The 99th NEC meeting held on Tuesday in Abuja came amid high tension and unresolved political friction. At the heart of the crisis is Senator Anyanwu, a known ally of FCT Minister and former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, whose grip on the party machinery in the South-East continues to polarise stakeholders.
The PDP’s leadership had previously established a fact-finding committee chaired by Taraba State Governor Agbu Kefas, with fellow governors Dauda Lawal (Zamfara) and Peter Mbah (Enugu), alongside National Legal Adviser Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN). Their mandate was to clarify INEC’s position on Anyanwu’s status, following a wave of discontent among South-East party stakeholders.
The report, presented during the NEC meeting, confirmed that INEC still recognises Anyanwu as the party’s National Secretary. This recognition, INEC said, was anchored on a standing Supreme Court judgment and procedural requirements that include a 21-day notice before any lawful removal of a national officer can be effected.
INEC’s stance has forced the PDP to reschedule deliberations on the secretaryship saga to June 30, when the party plans to perfect the processes necessary for Anyanwu’s formal removal—should consensus be reached.
The already volatile NEC session descended into near-chaos when Jones Onyereri, who was Anyanwu’s running mate in the 2023 Imo governorship election, raised a motion that South-East National Vice Chairman Ali Odefa should no longer be recognised. Onyereri argued that a court had suspended Odefa, leading to a sharp rebuke from other members. NEC leaders quickly defused the tension by advising Onyereri to submit a formal petition ahead of the next meeting.
A source privy to the closed-door deliberations told The Punch that, “The findings of the Kefas Committee made it impossible to act on the South-East caucus’s recommendation without breaching INEC procedures and party constitutional guidelines. The NEC has no choice but to defer action until all due processes are met.”
Wike, a dominant force within the PDP and often a divisive one, has openly criticised the party leadership’s perceived failure to honour reconciliation agreements. In a statement released Sunday, he pulled out of ongoing peace efforts, accusing Governors Seyi Makinde (Oyo) and Peter Mbah (Enugu) of breaching the fragile pact that sought to realign the party post-2023 elections.
The fallout prompted an emergency meeting of the reconciliation committee headed by former Senate President Bukola Saraki, but no resolution has yet been made public. Wike’s withdrawal could signal a fresh round of confrontations that could upset the party’s plans for unity ahead of the August national convention.
During the NEC meeting, Bauchi State Governor and Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Bala Mohammed, lamented mounting intimidation from external forces, including the federal government. He warned of booby traps and defections targeting PDP’s governors and lawmakers.
“There’s no form of cajoling or political blackmail that we haven’t experienced,” he said. “But we remain resolute. We will not abandon the mandate given to us by the Nigerian people.”
Bala’s comments reflect growing unease within PDP over what many see as a calculated campaign to destabilise the party from both internal and external quarters, including cross-carpeting of party loyalists to the ruling APC. Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s recent defection stands as a stark example of the ongoing hemorrhage.
Earlier in the meeting, PDP Board of Trustees Chairman and former Senate President Adolphus Wabara admitted that many of the challenges afflicting the party are self-inflicted. He urged members to recommit to genuine reconciliation.
“No ambition, grievance, or misunderstanding should override the collective interest of the PDP and the expectations of Nigerians,” Wabara said. “This 99th NEC must be remembered as a turning point—one that put unity and national interest above individual ego.”
Despite its internal strife, the NEC ratified key decisions regarding the forthcoming National Convention scheduled for August 28–30. A National Convention Committee chaired by Adamawa Governor Ahmadu Fintiri was approved, with Osun’s Ademola Adeleke as Vice Chairman and Governor Peter Mbah as Secretary.
Zoning of party offices ahead of the convention will be led by Bayelsa Governor Douye Diri, with Zamfara’s Dauda Lawal as Vice Chairman and Plateau’s Caleb Mutfwang as Secretary.
While NEC reaffirmed its belief in democratic values and the supremacy of the PDP Constitution, political observers remain skeptical. The deepening rift, especially with unresolved issues from the South-East, Rivers State crisis, and the broader post-election realignments, suggests that unity may remain elusive—at least for now.
As the PDP inches closer to its National Convention, the party’s ability to resolve its internal disputes will determine not just its electoral viability but also its relevance as Nigeria’s main opposition force. The NEC must navigate complex political, legal, and personal interests—balancing party constitutionality with strategic cohesion—if it is to mount any serious challenge ahead of 2027.
For now, all eyes are on June 30.