The Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) today repudiated an announcement by Acting National Chairman Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum cancelling the party’s 100th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting and reinstating Senator Samuel Anyanwu as National Secretary.

In a strongly worded statement signed by BoT Chairman Senator Adolphus Wabara, the trustees described Damagum’s pronouncements as “unconstitutional,” “null, void and of no effect,” and in “gross violation” of the PDP Constitution (2017 amendment). Under Section 31(3) of the party’s constitution, they noted, the resolution of the 99th NEC meeting—held on May 27, 2025—to convene the 100th meeting on Monday, June 30, 2025, is binding on all PDP organs and members.

“No organ, group or individual has the power or competence to cancel, adjust or postpone the 100th NEC meeting already scheduled by NEC,” the BoT said, adding that the Acting National Chairman lacks authority to override a collective NEC decision.

The BoT also dismissed Damagum’s purported reinstatement of Senator Anyanwu as “spurious,” emphasising that the National Working Committee’s directive at its 600th meeting—which appointed Deputy National Secretary Arc. Setonji Koshoedo to act as National Secretary—remains valid until formally altered by NEC or NWC.

The statement reads:

The BoT, in defense of the Constitution of the PDP, states categorically that these pronouncements by the Acting National Chairman are null, void and of no effect, being inconsistent and in gross violation of the express provisions of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017)

For the avoidance of doubt, the National Executive Committee (NEC) is the highest decision-making Organ of the Party, second only to the National Convention. By virtue of Section 31 (3) of the PDP Constitution, the resolution of the NEC at its 99th NEC meeting held on Tuesday, 27th May, 2025 to hold its 100th meeting on Monday, 30th June, 2025 is binding on all Organs and members of the PDP.

To this effect, being a NEC decision, no Organ, group or individual has the power or competence to cancel, adjust or postpone the 100th NEC meeting already scheduled by NEC to hold on Monday, 30th June, 2025

It is therefore not within the remit or authority of the Acting National Chairman, to override a collective decision of the NEC. Such conduct amounts to an affront to the constitutional authority of NEC and the collective will of our Party.

Furthermore, the statement purporting to reinstate Senator Samuel Anyanwu as National Secretary is equally spurious and offensive to the spirit and letter of the PDP Constitution, the outcome of the Supreme Court judgment and the resolution of NEC.

The decision of the National Working Committee (NWC) at its 600th meeting directing the Deputy National Secretary to act as National Secretary in accordance with the extant powers of the NWC remains valid, having not been set aside by the NWC or NEC. The attempt by Amb. Damagum to overturn that decision is a gross abuse of office.

The Board of Trustees, being the conscience of the Party cannot stand idly by and watch the Party descend into chaos through acts of impunity, unilateralism and disregard for constitutional procedures. As such, the BoT hereby affirms the following:

1. The 100th NEC Meeting shall proceed as scheduled on Monday, 30th June, 2025. All members of NEC are duly advised to disregard any contradictory notice or statement regarding the 100th NEC meeting.

2. The Deputy National Secretary, Arc. Setonji Koshoedo remains the Acting National Secretary of the PDP pending any contrary decision formally taken and communicated by the appropriate Organ of the Party.

3. All party members are advised to be guided by the supremacy of the Constitution of the PDP, and resist any attempt to drag the party into avoidable crisis.

The BoT reiterates that no individual interest is greater than the institutional integrity of the PDP. The BoT, as the moral compass of the party, will continue to defend due process, uphold Party supremacy and protect the democratic ethos upon which the PDP is founded.