NEC Reinstates Anyanwu As PDP national Secretary

By Pelumi Ameen

The 100th National Executive Committee meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party on Monday reinstated Senator Samuel Anyanwu as the party’s national secretary.

Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, announced that Anyanwu has been officially reinstated after the NEC meeting.

Damagum also told the media that the 101st NEC meeting has been scheduled for July 23 to finalise arrangements for the upcoming national convention.

The 2023 presidential election primary divided the main opposition party with the FCT minister, Nyesom Wike and other party bigwigs battling for the soul of the party.

The PDP had to relocate the BoT meeting after the police stormed the Wadata Plaza national secretariat of the party.

Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Damagum said: “I am here to brief you on the outcome of our interaction with NEC as regards the National Secretary.

“We’ve all combined in one, we were all together, and we all agree that Senator Anyanwu will continue to act as National Secretary.

“And also to bring the issue of the convention to bring it up in the next NEC, which is slated for the 23rd of next month (July).

Security operatives on Monday, stormed the National Secretariat of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), stopping members of the Board of Trustees (BoT) from holding their meeting at the party headquarters. 

The operatives who were in their numbers stormed the NEC hall were the meeting was supposed to hold and asked those present to leave.

A senior officer could be heard telling his subordinates ensure that all the halls in the facility are empty.

“Make sure nobody is in the hall there. That is the instruction. I heard there is another hall upstairs. Make sure nobody is meeting there,” he ordered.

Months of acrimony has seen the PDP split into two major factions. One faction aligned with Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and supported by Governors Peter Mbah (Enugu), Douye Diri (Bayelsa), Ademola Adeleke (Osun), Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), 11 NWC members, and other influential party leaders, is pushing for the NEC meeting to go ahead as planned and firmly opposes Anyanwu’s return.

 On the other hand, a faction led by former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, with the backing of Governors Caleb Muftwang (Plateau), Kefas Agbu (Taraba), Adamu Fintiri (Adamawa), and Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), as well as Damagum, Bature, and Ajibade, supports Anyanwu’s reinstatement and has called for the NEC meeting to be delayed.