PDP Governors, Stakeholders Meet INEC Over National Secretary Dispute
The Governors’ Forum of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday convened a conciliatory meeting with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), leading the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) in attendance. Among the governors present were Bala Mohammed from Bauchi, Seyi Makinde from Oyo, Caleb Mutfwang, and Dauda Lawal from Zamfara.
In addition to the governors, notable attendees included former Senate President 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.
Prior to the meeting’s transition to a private setting, Acting National Chairman of the PDP, Ambassador Umar Damagum, articulated their purpose at the Commission: to engage INEC on critical internal issues impacting the PDP, specifically those necessitating regulatory clarification from the Commission.
Absent from the meeting were Senator Samuel Nnaemeka Anyanwu and Udeh Okoye, the two primary contenders for the position of PDP National Secretary.
On May 30, the PDP had extended an invitation to INEC for its 100th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, scheduled for June 30. The correspondence was endorsed by the PDP’s acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum. However, INEC’s response on June 13 highlighted non-compliance with Part 2(12)3 of its 2022 Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties. According to these guidelines, notices for conventions, congresses, conferences, or meetings must be jointly signed by both the National Chairmen and National Secretaries of the political parties.
During the Tuesday gathering, Damagum expressed their intent to engage with INEC to seek clarification and guidance concerning the office of its National Secretary. He stated, “We are here today, as you are aware, due to issues regarding the status of our National Secretary. We have pursued litigation, beginning last year, culminating in a Supreme Court pronouncement involving INEC as a party. We are here to engage sincerely, as NEC mandated me to sign a letter to prevent controversy. I have received your response, urging us to be guided, and we hope to interact sincerely off-camera to guide our decisions upon our return.”
Following the meeting, Damagum refrained from divulging specifics of the closed-door session but described it as “very fruitful.” He indicated that his delegation would consult with broader PDP stakeholders on the meeting’s outcome and reconvene with INEC before June 30.
Earlier, during the opening session, INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu acknowledged the meeting’s initiation by the party, reiterating the commission’s open-door policy with all political parties. Yakubu emphasized the need for clarity regarding the party’s National Secretary, noting, “You may recall that not long ago, we received similar visitors from the Labour Party (LP). We welcomed the PDP’s visit. The acting Chairman has outlined the meeting’s purpose to discuss the party’s National Secretary status concerning our response to their request for us to monitor the 100th NEC meeting, which was signed solely by the chairman rather than both the chairman and secretary as stipulated in our Regulations. I am pleased that this meeting marks the 100th NEC meeting, indicating 99 prior instances of compliance via jointly signed invitations.”
Yakubu highlighted the confusion arising from the party’s inconsistent correspondence regarding the National Secretary. “In recent months, we received letters designating Mr. Sunday Udeh-Okoye as secretary, followed by changes naming Samuel Anyanwu, then Mr. Setonji Koshoedo, and subsequently Anyanwu again. The latest letter lacked a secretary’s signature, signed solely by the chairman, to which we responded. As the registrar and regulator of political parties, we aim to comprehend your perspective and expectations during the working session,” Yakubu concluded.
