PDP Crisis Deepens As NWC Calls Emergency Meeting After INEC Standoff

Amid escalating internal strife, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has summoned an emergency meeting today (Wednesday).

Wednesday).

the scheduled meeting followed a deadlocked session with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over procedural disputes and conflicting communications on the party’s leadership.

 A reliable party source confirmed the emergency session to Punch, revealing that the move follows INEC’s refusal to recognise the party’s notification for its 100th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, citing procedural irregularities.

During a high-level meeting on Tuesday between PDP governors, NWC members, and INEC officials, INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu called for a resolution to the party’s internal inconsistencies, especially regarding the position of National Secretary.

Yakubu stated, “In the last couple of months, we received letters from the party saying that one Udeh Okoye was the secretary. Thereafter, the party changed its mind and said it was Samuel Anyanwu. Then Setonji Koshoedo. And again, back to Anyanwu. 

“The last letter we received from the party was signed only by the chairman without the secretary, which violates our procedural guidelines.”

Yakubu added that while INEC remains open to dialogue, the party must abide by its constitution and electoral laws. He explained that PDP’s previous 99 NEC meetings were properly communicated through letters jointly signed by both the chairman and the secretary, the absence of which triggered the current impasse.

Addressing journalists after the closed-door meeting, PDP Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, described the interaction as “fruitful” and pledged to brief party stakeholders before issuing a formal response.

“We will go back and meet with our larger stakeholders and disseminate all our discussions. We will come out with a position,” Damagum said.

Earlier in his opening remarks, he acknowledged that the confusion over the National Secretary position, exacerbated by prolonged litigation and court rulings, had made communication with INEC problematic.

“We are here to interact sincerely with you off-camera so that it will guide us when we get back to have a position,” he added.