The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is embroiled in fresh internal turmoil following the Saraki-led reconciliation committee’s endorsement of Senator Samuel Anyanwu’s return as National Secretary.
This decision has provoked strong opposition from the PDP Governors’ Forum, Board of Trustees, and National Working Committee members, exacerbating existing divisions ahead of the May 27 National Executive Committee meeting.
The dispute over the National Secretary position dates back to the 2023 elections and escalated in December 2024 when a lower court recognized Sunday Udeh-Okoye as National Secretary. While PDP governors and party organs initially accepted this, Anyanwu challenged the ruling at the Supreme Court, which ruled in his favor on March 21, dismissing judicial interference in internal party matters.
Following the verdict, governors requested the South-East caucus to nominate a new candidate, resulting in Setonji Koshoedo’s appointment as Acting Secretary and subsequent NWC approval. However, Saraki’s committee’s recent endorsement of Anyanwu without wider consultation has unsettled many leaders.
A senior PDP insider said, “Saraki met with only a few NWC members and decided on Anyanwu without consulting the full panel or governors who assigned him the task.” Governors from Zamfara, Oyo, Bayelsa, and Enugu states view this as undermining their authority.
The South-East caucus, led by Governor Peter Mbah and BoT Chairman Adolphus Wabara, reaffirmed their support for Udeh-Okoye and warned that ignoring their stance could jeopardize their loyalty.
Despite this, a party insider confirmed Koshoedo’s name has been forwarded to INEC as the official National Secretary. Another source cautioned that defying the Supreme Court ruling could have damaging consequences.
Atiku Abubakar, PDP’s 2023 presidential candidate, expressed support for reconciliation and coalition efforts, stressing the importance of opposition unity. “The PDP cannot afford to be handicapped in any shape or form,” he said.
Former National Secretary Ibrahim Tsauri described the disagreements as natural and expressed confidence in the party’s resilience. Conversely, the ruling APC dismissed the PDP as a “dead party.”
The May 27 NEC meeting will be a critical test for the PDP’s unity and future.
