• Stakeholders demand respect for court ruling on secretaryship
• INEC misfired in response to PDP’s notice of 100th NEC’

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has rejected a notification from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) regarding its planned 100th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting scheduled for June 30.

The commission said the rejection was due to the party’s failure to comply with its guidelines for political parties.

Meanwhile, PDP Concerned Stakeholders (PCS) issued a stern warning to the party leadership, calling for an immediate end to a “sustained and unjustified” crisis on the secretaryship of the party.

However, a legal practitioner, Godwin Mbachu, said INEC was mistaken in its rejection of PDP’s notice for its 100th NEC meeting.

In a letter addressed to the PDP national chairman dated June 13, 2025, and signed by the Acting Secretary to the Commission, Haliru Aminu, INEC drew the party’s attention to a breach of its 2022 Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties.

Specifically, INEC referenced Part 2(12)3 of the guidelines, which stipulates that “the National Chairman and National Secretary of the party shall jointly sign the notice of convention, congress, conference or meeting and submit same to the commission.”

INEC noted that the PDP’s letter, dated May 30 and signed solely by the party’s acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, did not meet this requirement.

It stated: “The commission draws your attention that the notice (for the 100th NEC meeting) is not in compliance with the requirement of part 2(12)3 of the Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties, 2022 that provides that ‘the National Chairman and National Secretary of the Party shall jointly sign the notice of convention, congress, conference or meeting and submit same to the commission.’ Be guided.”

The PDP had earlier sent the notice to INEC, informing the electoral body of its intention to hold its 100th NEC meeting at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.

One of the major points of contention has been the leadership tussle over the National Secretary position between Samuel Anyanwu and Sunday Ude-Okoye. Anyanwu, who left the position to contest the Imo State governorship election and lost, has since attempted to return to the office.

In his absence, the South East caucus of the party nominated Ude-Okoye to occupy the role.

While some PDP leaders loyal to Anyanwu argued that he remains the rightful secretary, former governor of Imo State, Achike Udenwa, insisted that the South East caucus’ decision must stand, adding that the forces backing Anyanwu are not superior to the South East Caucus.

In a statement released yesterday, the PCS advised that the best solution to the crisis was to allow Anyanwu to serve out his tenure, so that the quagmire in which the party found itself regarding the secretaryship could be addressed.

A three-man committee established by the NEC led by Taraba State Governor, Agbu Kefas, to verify the status of Anyanwu from INEC revealed last month that INEC recognised Anyanwu as the party’s secretary in line with a Supreme Court judgment.

Mbachu, in a legal opinion volunteered for public enlightenment, stressed that the NEC meeting scheduled for June 30, “is not for the Purpose of Merger or Election of National Executive Committee members as stated in Part 2(12)(3) of INEC guidelines and regulations for political parties (2022).

Rather, Mbachu explained, the 100th NEC meeting aims to address critical internal party matters, including the approval and population of the National Convention Committee and Zoning Committee, ratification of zonal congresses, and resolution of the ongoing dispute over the National Secretaryship position.

“These objectives align with the PDP’s commitment to strengthening its internal mechanisms and fostering unity ahead of the 2027 general elections, as deliberated during the 99th NEC meeting on May 27, 2025.

“The PDP has formally notified INEC of the upcoming meeting through a letter dated May 30, 2025, signed by Acting National Chairman, Damagum, in compliance with INEC’s regulations requiring a 21-day notice for such gatherings, and there was no paragraph in that letter stating that it was for the purpose of merger or election of NEC members,” he surmised.