Party punctures allegation, says claim won’t stop convention
National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Samuel Anyanwu, has petitioned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) over an alleged forgery and cloning of his signature.
However, The Guardian checks revealed that contrary to Anyanwu’s claims, he co-signed the letter to INEC with the PDP National Chairman, Umar Damagum.
In three separate letters dated October 15, 2025, Anyanwu raised the alarm over a letter purportedly addressed to INEC and bearing his “forged signature” in relation to the PDP’s 2025 elective national convention.
He said the letter, referenced PDP/DOM/GF.2/Vol.1M/25-140 and dated August 25, 2025, was sent to INEC without his knowledge or authorisation. Anyanwu described the document as fake, saying it was “shocking” to discover that a version of his signature had been cloned and used on an official party communication. He urged INEC, DSS and police to investigate the matter and prosecute those responsible.
“I, therefore, request that this criminal conduct by PDP officers and their collaborators within INEC be investigated and the culprits prosecuted,” he added.
Each of the petitions, acknowledged by the respective agencies between October 15 and 16, included an excerpt of the alleged forged document as evidence. Anyanwu’s move comes amid growing internal tensions within the PDP ahead of its convention.
The national secretary said the petitions were necessary to protect the integrity of the party and prevent the use of falsified documents in official dealings with electoral or security agencies.
In March, the Supreme Court nullified the judgment, which sacked Anyanwu as National Secretary of the PDP. But Damagum later asked Anyanwu to resume as national secretary, noting that the resolution to recognise him was a “difficult” one. Anyanwu is an ally of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
The Guardian gathered that during the 102nd National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, the issue was raised, prompting the Chairman of PDP Governors’ Forum (PDPGF), Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, to reiterate Anyanwu’s involvement.
However, when the governor publicly announced that “all communication to INEC has been signed by our National Working Committee (NWC),” during the NEC meeting, Anyanwu reportedly did not raise any objection in front of party leaders, stakeholders and INEC observers.
A member of the party’s NEC, from the South-East, told The Guardian that it was possible that the secretary had a change of mind by raising the forgery allegation to create doubts and confusion, stressing that all members of the NWC were united in the resolve to hold the national convention in Ibadan.
“I can tell you that Anyanwu, who was present at the meeting, remained silent on the matter, which meant that Governor Mohammed’s announcement was a true reflection of what happened. The secretary must be responding to outside influence,” the source stated.
