PDP National Secretary Dispute Settled: Senator Samuel Anyanwu Fully Recognised, Focus Shifts to Party Unity By Tonye Barcanista

The lingering leadership dispute over the position of National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been firmly resolved through judicial and political processes, affirming Senator Samuel Anyanwu as the party’s legitimate National Secretary.

The matter was conclusively settled by the Supreme Court judgment delivered on March 21, 2025, which upheld Anyanwu’s position. This legal resolution has since been complemented by political endorsement from the PDP Governors’ Forum Committee, the National Reconciliation Committee led by Dr. Bukola Saraki, and the PDP National Caucus.

Crucially, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) also reaffirmed that Senator Anyanwu has remained the recognised National Secretary of the PDP since December 10, 2021, debunking claims to the contrary. This confirmation came after consultations with a committee set up by Governors Peter Mbah and Seyi Makinde, who had initially opposed Anyanwu’s position.

At the reconvened National Caucus meeting held on May 27, 2025, members unanimously affirmed Senator Anyanwu’s position, reinforcing the stance taken by INEC and the Saraki-led committee. The subsequent National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party dismissed discussions surrounding a controversial communiqué from a Southeast stakeholders’ meeting convened by Governor Peter Mbah.

In a communiqué read by Acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum, the NEC made clear that Anyanwu’s position is no longer subject to debate.

Political analyst Tonye Barcanista, commenting on the development, said: “At this juncture, it is both foolish and absurd for anyone to debate what is now a settled issue. Any further dissenting opinion on the Secretaryship of Senator Anyanwu is akin to a fool attempting to drain the Atlantic Ocean with a teaspoon.”

Attention within the PDP is now shifting toward reconciling internal factions and supporting the reform efforts of both Ambassador Damagum and Senator Anyanwu, with a shared focus on strengthening the party ahead of future political contests.