Tensions have emerged within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) following plans to hold its 100th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on Monday without a properly acknowledged notice by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The electoral body insists that the meeting’s notice must be jointly signed by both the acting national chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum, and the party’s national secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, in line with its regulations.
INEC, in its official response to a notice signed solely by the PDP’s acting national secretary, cited Part 2 (12) 3 of its 2022 Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties, which states that both the chairman and secretary of a political party must co-sign notices of conventions, congresses, conferences, or official meetings. The commission urged the party to adhere strictly to this requirement.
However, PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, pushed back against the electoral commission’s position during a media briefing in Abuja. He questioned the motive behind INEC’s letter, which he claimed was written on June 13 — nearly two weeks after the party’s initial notice had been submitted.
He also called for an investigation into the conduct of INEC’s Acting Secretary, Haliru Aminu, suggesting there might be external influence behind the commission’s delayed response.
“We want to know who the acting secretary of INEC is working for. Nigerians, international partners, and taxpayers deserve to see transparency and neutrality from INEC,” Ologunagba declared.
He argued that the NEC meeting was simply a routine affair and not a convention requiring INEC’s involvement to that extent, noting that it would not involve the election of new officers or decisions related to mergers or candidate nominations.
He further emphasized that informing INEC was done out of courtesy, not obligation, and insisted that the commission should be applauding the PDP for reaching the milestone of convening its 100th NEC meeting — a first for any political party in Nigeria.
Meanwhile, he also revealed that the party’s reconciliation efforts were yielding results, with two separate peace committees led by former governors Olagunsoye Oyinlola and Bukola Saraki making headway in mending internal party rifts.
Despite previous NEC resolutions hinting at a replacement of the national secretary, Ologunagba said any contentious items on the agenda could be postponed or stepped down as needed.
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