Govs, BoT kick as Saraki panel fuels PDP crisis.
The Peoples Democratic Party crisis is worsening, with no end in sight, despite the appointment of former Senate President Bukola Saraki and six others to a reconciliation committee ahead of the National Executive Committee meeting on May 27.
Senior party officials indicated that the Saraki-led panel’s approval of Senator Samuel Anyanwu’s reinstatement as National Secretary had caused additional issues.
Our reporter heard that the decision was not well received by the PDP Governors’ Forum, members of the National Working Committee, the Board of Trustees, and other party stakeholders, reigniting tensions inside the party.
The PDP has been dealing with an internal dispute since the 2023 elections, which escalated in December 2024 when the South-East zonal caucus and a lower court confirmed former National Youth Leader Sunday Udeh-Okoye as National Secretary.
Although the PDP governors, the BoT, and the NWC accepted the court’s verdict, Anyanwu challenged it in the Supreme Court.
On March 21, the court denied his expulsion, stating that internal party concerns were beyond the judiciary’s competence.
Following the verdict, on April 14, PDP governors asked the South-East to submit a new nominee, which resulted in the appointment of Setonji Koshoedo, Deputy Scribe, as Acting Secretary.
The NWC later approved his nomination at its 600th meeting on April 29.
Despite these moves, conflicts over the National Secretary position continue to split the party’s leadership.
To address the situation ahead of the NEC meeting on May 27 and the election in August, current and past governors nominated Saraki to lead a seven-member reconciliation team.
After a meeting on May 12 with the acting national chairman, Umar Damagum, the national legal adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN), and the national organising secretary, Umar Bature, Saraki gave Anyanwu permission to resume his position as national secretary.
This decision infuriated the South-East Zonal Caucus, led by Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah and PDP BoT Chairman Adolphus Wabara.
In a meeting on Wednesday, they unanimously affirmed Sunday Udeh-Okoye as their preferred choice for the position, warning that if their decision was not honoured, they would reconsider their membership in the PDP.
A senior PDP leader, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, revealed that the South-East caucus, along with Mbah, the BoT Chairman, Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri, and some NWC members, were upset that the Saraki-led panel endorsed Anyanwu’s resumption without consulting them.
According to the source, “There is renewed agitation over Saraki’s handling of the situation.” He met with only a few NWC members and determined that Anyanwu should resume his position as National Secretary, without consulting the complete panel, the entire NWC, or the governors who assigned him the duty.
“I can tell you that some governors, including Seyi Makinde, the Enugu State governor, the Zamfara State governor, and even the Bayelsa State governor, are not thrilled about it. They interpret this situation as a deliberate attempt to weaken their authority and portray them as ineffective.
“Even some NWC members are unhappy with the decision. The NWC members anticipated that the Saraki-led panel would consult with them before making such a determination.
“Remember, things had been relatively calm since the governors nominated and the NWC approved Koshoedo as National Secretary until Saraki’s meeting with a few NWC members stirred things up”
“The governors, the BoT chairman, and other NWC members want peace within the PDP. They want the interests of the South-East, which made the nomination, to be preserved and respected, rather than the party’s unity being sacrificed for the benefit of a few individuals.”
The Independent National Electoral Commission received the name of the PDP’s Deputy National Secretary, who also serves as the party’s scribe.
“I am aware that Koshoedo’s name was forwarded to INEC on Wednesday; he is the party’s designated secretary as of today. “I am not aware of any other arrangement besides that,” the person stated.
Another party insider acknowledged that many of the party’s leaders did not warmly embrace the decision to endorse Anyanwu.
He did, however, warn that ignoring the Supreme Court’s decision would have terrible ramifications for the PDP.
“The latest outcry is because the panel comprehended the law and maintained the Supreme Court’s decision in favour of Anyanwu. Saraki did not personally clear Anyanwu; the panel just followed the Supreme Court’s verdict, which was the correct thing to do.
“Nigeria is not a lawless nation. If these officials choose to ignore the Supreme Court’s decision, it could backfire on the party in the future. Remember, we’re talking about the job of National Secretary, which is essentially the party’s motor. If this trend continues, it may have an impact on the party’s National Executive Committee, the National Elective Convention, and future elections, according to the source.