The Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has strongly condemned what it described as an “unconstitutional pronouncement” by the Acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum.
The condemnation is coming on the heels of the purported cancellation of the party’s 100th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting and the unilateral reinstatement of Senator Samuel Anyanwu as National Secretary.
In a press release issued on Thursday and signed by BoT Chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara, the party’s highest advisory body declared Damagum’s actions as “null, void and of no effect”, accusing him of violating the PDP Constitution and acting beyond his powers.
“The attention of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been drawn to an unconstitutional pronouncement by the Acting National Chairman, purporting to cancel the 100th NEC meeting, and directing Senator Samuel Anyanwu to resume as National Secretary,” the statement read.
The BoT maintained that the NEC remains the highest decision-making body of the party, second only to the National Convention, and insisted that only a properly constituted NEC can alter its resolutions.
“By virtue of Section 31 (3) of the PDP Constitution, the resolution of the NEC at its 99th 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 BoT asserted.
The statement added that the Acting Chairman lacked the constitutional authority to override the collective decision of NEC and warned that such unilateral actions could plunge the party into chaos.
Also dismissed was Damagum’s claim of reinstating Senator Anyanwu as National Secretary. The BoT cited existing decisions of the National Working Committee (NWC) and the Supreme Court which, according to them, upheld the appointment of Deputy National Secretary, Arc. Setonji Koshoedo, to act in that capacity.
“The decision of the NWC at its 600th meeting directing the Deputy National Secretary to act as National Secretary remains valid. The attempt by Amb. Damagum to overturn that decision is a gross abuse of office,” the BoT stated.
The Trustees further reaffirmed their commitment to protecting the party’s constitutional integrity, emphasizing that “no individual interest is greater than the institutional integrity of the PDP.”
The BoT however, declared that the 100th NEC meeting will proceed as scheduled on Monday, 30th June 2025 and that Arc. Setonji Koshoedo remains the Acting National Secretary until a decision is properly taken by the competent organ of the party.
The body also urged party members to uphold the PDP Constitution and resist any act that could destabilize the party.
Wabara emphasized that the BoT, as the conscience of the party, will not stand by while the PDP’s democratic foundations are undermined.
“The BoT will continue to defend due process, uphold party supremacy, and protect the democratic ethos upon which the PDP is founded,” he stated.