The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) met with officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday to seek clarity over the commission’s position on the ongoing leadership crisis concerning the party’s National Secretary role.
At the center of the controversy is Senator Samuel Anyanwu, who remains recognized by INEC as the constitutionally empowered official to issue notices for the PDP’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meetings. INEC has maintained that until due process is followed, Anyanwu retains the authority to convene the party’s NEC, despite internal objections from some PDP leaders.
A statement issued by the PDP’s National Director of Publicity, Chinwe Nnorom, confirmed the meeting, which was led by INEC Chairman Professor Mahmood Yakubu. Following the engagement at INEC’s headquarters, PDP leaders reconvened at the Bauchi State Government Lodge in Asokoro, Abuja. The details of that follow-up meeting remain undisclosed at the time of reporting.
Meanwhile, the PDP continues to face internal strife over the controversial NEC meeting, with tension escalating between the Acting National Chairman, Ambassador Iliya Damagun, and the National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Debo Ologunagba.
The disagreement stems from Ologunagba’s public statement asserting that INEC’s approval was not required for the NEC to proceed—a position that Damagun has publicly distanced himself from.
Reacting to this internal discord, a group of National Ex-Officio members led by Faboyede Clement and Comfort Yassan issued a joint statement expressing “shock” at Damagun’s withdrawal from the spokesperson’s remarks. They criticized what they described as a lack of internal cohesion and clarity in party leadership.
Adding to the public criticism, two former PDP National Publicity Secretaries—Chief Olisa Metuh and Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan—have condemned the ongoing feud between Damagun and Ologunagba via their social media platforms. Both men warned that such public contradictions and leadership instability could further damage the party’s public image and undermine unity ahead of critical political engagements.
The PDP has not issued a formal resolution on the NEC meeting as of press time, and observers are closely monitoring how the crisis unfolds in the coming days.