By Ayomide Otitoju
The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has affirmed that the party’s 100th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting will proceed as scheduled on Monday, June 30, despite claims to the contrary by Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum.
In a statement issued on Wednesday and jointly signed by 11 top PDP officials, the NWC also dismissed Damagum’s announcement reinstating Senator Samuel Anyanwu as the party’s National Secretary, describing the move as unauthorized and contrary to the party’s constitution.
Damagum had earlier addressed a press conference where he announced the cancellation of the upcoming NEC meeting and reinstated Anyanwu. However, the NWC quickly countered the statement, asserting that no individual or party organ, including the Acting Chairman, has the authority to overrule a NEC resolution.
“The pronouncements by the Acting National Chairman have no foundation,” the statement read. “No organ of the party (including the NWC), individual, or group has the power to cancel, overrule, veto, or vary the resolution of the National Executive Committee (NEC) under the constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017).”
The statement was endorsed by senior party figures, including Taofeek Arapaja (Deputy National Chairman – South), Setonji Koshoedo (Acting National Secretary), and Debo Ologunagba (National Publicity Secretary), among others.
The NWC cited Section 31(3) of the PDP Constitution, noting that the NEC — the second-highest decision-making body after the National Convention — remains the only organ with the authority to schedule or alter meetings of such magnitude.
On the matter of Senator Anyanwu’s status, the NWC reaffirmed that the 99th NEC had already referred issues relating to the National Secretary’s office to the upcoming 100th NEC meeting for determination.
“In light of the foregoing, the 100th NEC meeting as scheduled for Monday, June 30, 2025, has not been canceled or postponed,” the committee concluded.
