The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, says its National Executive Council, NEC, meeting scheduled for June 30, 2025 remains sacrosanct.
This was contained in a statement by the party’s Chairman, Board of Trustees, BoT, Adolphus Wabara on Thursday.
He described the purported cancellation of 100th NEC meeting and unilateral pronouncements by the Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagun as 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).
Wabara said the National Executive Committee, NEC, is the highest decision-making organ of the party, second only to the National Convention, adding that 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.
The former Senate President reiterated that no organ, group or individual has the power or competence to cancel, adjust or postpone the 100th NEC meeting already scheduled by the NEC to hold on Monday, 30th June, 2025.
The statement further said that purported reinstatement of 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.
It restated that 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, stressing that the attempt by Damagum to overturn that decision was a gross abuse of office.
The party held that the Board of Trustees, being its conscience could not stand idly by and watch the Party descend into chaos through acts of impunity, unilateralism and disregard for constitutional procedures.
“The attention of the Board of Trustees has been drawn to an unconstitutional pronouncement by the Acting National Chairman of our great party, Amb. Umar Iliya Damagum, purporting to cancel the 100th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting scheduled to hold on Monday, 30th June, 2025 and directing Senator Samuel Anyanwu to resume as National Secretary of the Party
“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.
“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.
“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.
“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 statement read in part.
The BoT further stated that no individual interest is greater than the institutional integrity of the PDP, expressing its resolve to continue to defend due process, uphold party supremacy and protect the democratic ethos upon which the PDP is founded.
