PDP Govs, NWC Meet INEC over National Secretary Controversy

PDP Govs, NWC Meet INEC over National Secretary Controversy

JOEL OLADELE, Abuja

The Governors Forum of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) met with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday to discuss the ongoing controversy surrounding the position of the party’s National Secretary.

The meeting comes as two individuals, Senator Samuel Nnaemeka Anyanwu and Udeh Okoye, both claim the title, creating confusion within the party.

Recall that on May 30, the PDP had sent a letter to INEC, inviting them to the party’s 100th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting scheduled for June 30. The letter was signed by the acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum.

However, INEC responded on June 13, stating that the letter did not meet the requirements outlined in Part 2(12)3 of its Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties, 2022. According to these guidelines, both the National Chairman and National Secretary must jointly sign notices for meetings.

Before the closed-door meeting began, Acting National Chairman, Damagum explained that they were at INEC to discuss important internal matters affecting the PDP, particularly those needing regulatory clarification.

“We are here today, as you are aware that we have issues pertaining to the status of our National Secretary. We have gone into litigation, I think, from the beginning of last year until when the Supreme Court made a pronouncement of which INEC was a party to that litigation,” he stated.

Damagum continued, “We are here today to discuss and interact with you sincerely, because we had NEC and there was a decision of NEC which mandated me to sign a letter to avoid controversy. I have received your reply to that letter, urging us to be guided.

“So, I think we are here to interact sincerely with you off-camera so that it will guide us when we get back, to have a position that would further help us in taking decisions that will help us out of the situation we found ourselves in.”

Addressing newsmen after the closed door meeting that lasted for about one hour, Damagum described the discussions as “very fruitful” but declined to provide specific details.

He mentioned that his delegation would meet with other PDP stakeholders to discuss the outcomes of the meeting and return to INEC before June 30.

“We just had an interactive session with the leadership of INEC, and it was a very thorough and fruitful discussion. And we will go back and meet our larger stakeholders and disseminate all the discussion that has taken place today, and we’ll come up with a position immediately,” he said.

Earlier in his remarks before the closed door session, INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, welcomed the PDP’s visit, stating, “This meeting is at the instance of the party. They requested to interact with us and our doors are always open to meet with leaders of political parties in our capacity as the registrar and regulator of political parties in Nigeria.”

Yakubu expressed concern over the confusion regarding the party’s National Secretary, saying, “In the last couple of months, we received letters from the party saying that one Mr. Ude Okoye was the secretary. Thereafter, the party changed its mind and said it was Anyanwu. Thereafter, the party changed its mind to say that it’s Mr. Okoye and again the party changed its mind to say it’s Anyanwu. And the last letter from the party actually has no secretary at all.”

Some of the PDP governors at the meeting include Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang and Governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal.

Other stakeholders in attendance are: former Senate President, Sen. Bukola Saraki, former Governor of Kaduna State, Ahmed Makarfi, Senate Minority Leader, Abba Moro, former Governor of Bayelsa state, Seriake Dickson, PDP National Organizing Secretary, Umar Bature, and Senator Ben Obi.