The fact-finding committee of the Peoples Democratic Party?s National Caucus, led by Taraba State Governor Agbu Kefas, informed the 99th National Executive Committee meeting on Tuesday that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, had recognised Senator Samuel Anyanwu as the party?s National Secretary.

On Monday, the NEC established a three-member committee led by Kefas, with Governors Dauda Lawal (Zamfara) and Peter Mbah (Enugu), PDP National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade SAN, as members, to verify whether INEC recognised Anyanwu, a loyalist of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, as the party?s scribe.

Multiple sources, including a NEC member, who spoke to The PUNCH on condition of anonymity due to a lack of authorisation to speak to the media, revealed that the Kefas panel informed the 99th NEC on Tuesday in Abuja that INEC had affirmed Anyanwu as the party?s national secretary in line with a Supreme Court judgment.

To properly remove him from office based on the decision of the PDP governors, and in adherence to the 21-day notice requirement, the party plans to reconvene by June 30.

The development may further exacerbate the crisis in the party and widen the schism between the party and the FCT minister, who threatened to pull out of the agreements he had earlier reached with the party leadership to resolve the crisis plaguing the opposition party.

Wike accused the party leadership of reneging on the agreements.

In a statement on Sunday, the ex-Rivers governor announced his withdrawal from the reconciliation efforts, blaming Governors Seyi Makinde of Oyo and Peter Mbah of Enugu for the party crisis.

On the heels of Wike?s statement, the reconciliation panel led by former Senate President Bukola Saraki held an emergency meeting with key stakeholders on Sunday night.

The outcome of the meeting has yet to be ascertained.

The PDP has been dealing with internal political turmoil before and after the 2023 general elections.

Issues such as the crisis in Rivers State, disagreements over the South South and South East Zonal Congress, the dispute surrounding the national secretary position, and, more recently, the North Central Zonal Congress, have further polarised the party.

Tensions have risen among party leaders, including Wike, and Governors Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau), Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa), and others, who are displeased with decisions taken by the National Working Committee and the PDP Governors? Forum.

These decisions, largely influenced by Governors Makinde, Mbah, and Mohammed, are perceived as attempts to whittle Wike?s political influence.

Despite efforts by the National Working Committee, Board of Trustees, NEC, and the Governors? Forum to resolve these conflicts, tensions have worsened and spread across various states and geopolitical zones.

The persistent crisis caused the NEC meeting to be postponed six times, delaying important decisions about the party?s future. As a result, several party members, including Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, defected from the PDP to the ruling APC.

Following an extensive National Caucus meeting held at the Bauchi Governors Lodge in Abuja on Monday and Tuesday, the 99th NEC meeting was called to order at noon at the party annex office, Legacy House, Abuja.

A reliable source informed our correspondent that the 99th NEC meeting turned chaotic when a South-East Zonal member objected to the National Vice Chairman (South East), Ali Odefa, claiming he is no longer a member of the party.

The sources stated, ?The findings of the Kefas Committee, earlier set up by the National Caucus, were presented to the NEC. The findings revealed that INEC recognises Anyanwu because he has not been officially removed.

?INEC told them that Anyanwu has not been removed and that the Commission must be given at least 21 days? notice. It also has to witness the removal process.

?Therefore, the NEC decided to receive the South-East petition and scheduled it for further deliberation at another meeting slated for June 30 to perfect the removal process.

?Also, while the meeting was ongoing, Anyanwu?s running mate during the last Imo State governorship election, Jones Onyereri, moved a motion that the South-East Zonal National Chairman, Ali Odefa, should not be recognised. He argued that Odefa had been suspended and removed by a court ruling.

?When the situation began to get rowdy, Onyereri was asked to submit a formal petition on the matter at the next NEC meeting.?

According to the Kefas committee?s report, exclusively obtained by our correspondent, the Enugu governor, who met with an INEC representative, disclosed that no replacement could be made until Anyanwu was removed in line with the party?s Constitution.

The report read in part, ?H.E Peter Mba met with INEC contact and reported to the committee the position/status of the National Secretary thus: That the commission still recognised Sen. Anyanwu as the National Secretary of the party in consonance with the Supreme Court judgment

?That there?s no vacancy to be replaced until Anyanwu is removed in accordance with the Constitution of the party. That notice of 21 days should be given to the commission for any such meeting to remove and or replace an official of the Party

?That the NEC meeting should be in compliance with the provisions of the party?s Constitution and requirements in the Electoral Act in the case of removal/appointment of an official of the Party.

?The committee resolved to recommend to the forum that the procedure and the processes be followed to complete the acceptance of the recommendation of the South East caucus in order to lay to rest the agitation and put the Party back on track in South East.

?Also, the party in NEC should acknowledge the request/ recommendation of the South-East caucus to be considered at the next meeting, amongst other things.?

While presenting the communiqu? of the 99th NEC meeting on Tuesday, Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, confirmed that the National Executive Committee had received the resolution from the South-East Zonal Executive concerning the position of the national secretary.

Damagum stated that the PDP NEC resolved to deliberate on the South-East Zonal Executive?s resolution at its next meeting scheduled for Monday, June 30.

The communiqu? read in part, ?On the part of the PDP, NEC restates our party?s belief in Democracy, the Rule of Law and the Supremacy of the will of the people as expressed through their free and unhindered democratic participation in multi-party politics and governance.

?The successful convening of the 99th NEC meeting clearly communicates our party?s unity and focus despite the challenges.

?Pursuant to the provisions of the PDP Constitution, NEC received and ratified the composition of the Committee on the National Convention and approved the conduct of the National Convention on Thursday, 28th to Saturday, 30th August 2025.

?NEC also received and ratified the composition of the Committee on the Zoning of National Offices ahead of the National Convention.

?The members of the Zoning Committee are Gov. Douye Diri - Chairman, Gov. Dauda Lawal -Vice Chairman and Gov. Caleb Mutfwang - Secretary. The members of the National Convention Committee are Gov. Ahmadu Fintiri- Chairman, Gov. Ademola Adeleke - Vice Chairman and Gov. Peter Mbah ? Secretary.

?NEC also received the resolution of the South-East Zonal Executive with regard to the issue of the National Secretary of our Party. NEC resolved to consider the Resolution of the South East Zonal Executive at the next NEC meeting scheduled to hold on Monday, 30th June, 2025.?

In his remarks, Chairman of the PDP Governors? Forum and Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, claimed that the party?s leaders are facing intimidation from the Federal Government.

He stated, ?As governors, we have gone through a lot. There are so many booby traps, innuendos, political movements that have been done. Today, we have been bombarded by the issue of coalition, defection?a gale of defection that is even affecting some of our members.

?Our members are standing strong and resolute. There is no intimidation that we are not going through. There is no caressing or cajoling that members and elected governors are not going through, if you ask any one of them. But certainly, we are resolute. We will not abandon the mandate.?

Before the start of the meeting, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Senator Adolphus Wabara, stated that many of the internal issues and challenges confronting the party are self-inflicted.

He nevertheless praised the party for its enduring commitment to its ideals, the resilience of its structures, and its shared vision for a united, democratic, and prosperous Nigeria?qualities that have led millions of Nigerians to view the PDP as the most credible platform for national transformation.

These notwithstanding, the former Senate President said there is still much work to do as divisions, mistrusts, and lingering grievances within the ranks have at times hampered progress and blurred the vision of members.

He said, ?As the party of the people, we must recommit to healing these wounds and restoring faith among our members. As chairman of the Board of Trustees, the conscience of the party, I call on all of us leaders, elders, youths, and stakeholders to embrace reconciliation, not just as a political tactic, but as a moral imperative. We must open our hearts to forgive, to dialogue, and to debate.

?No ambition, no grievance, and no misunderstanding should ever be allowed to override the collective interests of our party and the hopes of the Nigerian people who are yearning for our return to national leadership.

?Let us initiate a genuine and structural reconciliation process led by respected elders that reaches down to the grassroots and extends a hand of peace to all aggrieved members, both old and new.

?Our doors must remain wide open to fresh ideas, open to new members, open to all Nigerians who believe in justice, equity, and good governance. (The PUNCH)

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