Crisis Deepens in PDP as Damagum, Anyanwu Issue Conflicting Orders on State Congresses

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has been thrown into fresh confusion after two top leaders of the party issued contradictory directives regarding state congresses scheduled for Cross River, Plateau, and Kebbi States.

In a letter dated September 25, the PDP Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, announced that the congresses earlier slated for September 27 had been postponed.

He attributed the decision to “unforeseen circumstances and operational logistic challenges.”

“This means that state congresses in the three aforementioned states will not hold as earlier scheduled,” Damagum stated, noting that a new date would be communicated to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in due course.

However, in another letter dated September 26, PDP National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, countered the directive, insisting that the congresses must proceed as planned.

According to Anyanwu, INEC should only act on communications jointly signed by both the national chairman and the national secretary.

“The congresses in the three states shall hold as earlier scheduled,” he declared. “The commission should not honour any communication without the joint signatures of the national secretary and the national chairman.”

The conflicting statements further underline the deepening rift in the PDP’s national leadership. The party has been embroiled in an internal tussle over the position of national secretary, with both Anyanwu and Sunday Udeh-Okoye laying claim to the seat.

Earlier in the year, the Supreme Court nullified the ruling that removed Anyanwu from office. Following the judgement, Damagum directed him to resume duties, describing the move as a “difficult” but necessary decision.

Anyanwu, who is also a known ally of the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, has since resumed office, but the development has widened cracks within the opposition party.