Politics
INEC Receives PDP’s Notice Of Suspension Of Anyanwu, Others
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has formally acknowledged receipt of the resolution of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) suspending four of its top national officers, including the National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu.
Others suspended are the National Organising Secretary, Captain Umar Bature (retd.); the National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN); and the Deputy National Legal Adviser, Okechukwu Osuoha.
Naija News reports that the development was contained in a communiqué issued on Wednesday after an emergency meeting of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) held in Abuja.
According to the party, INEC was officially notified through a letter conveying the NWC’s resolution from its 608th emergency meeting, where the affected officers were sanctioned over alleged anti-party activities.
The letter, signed by the Acting National Chairman, Umar Iliya Damagum, and other top officials, stated that the suspensions were made in line with Sections 57(3), 58(1)(a)(b)(c)(h) and 59(1) of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017).
“The NWC, pursuant to the provisions of the PDP Constitution, suspends the following national officers from the party:
“Senator Samuel Anyanwu – National Secretary
“Hon. Umar Bature – National Organising Secretary
“Barr. Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN) – National Legal Adviser
“Barr. Okechukwu Osuoha – Deputy National Legal Adviser.
The above-named officers are consequently suspended for one month and referred to the National Disciplinary Committee for further action,” the letter read.
The commission was also informed that during the period of suspension, the affected officials “shall cease to function in their respective capacities.”
In the interim, the Deputy National Secretary, Hon. (Arc.) Setonji Koshoedo, has been directed to serve as Acting National Secretary, in accordance with Section 36(2) of the party’s constitution.
Similarly, the National Director of Legal Services and the National Director of Organisation have been assigned to oversee the operations of their respective departments until further notice.
The letter addressed to INEC read, “The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at its 608th emergency meeting considered the continued anti-party activities of some National Officers despite the formal reprimand issued by the Party.
The NWC, pursuant to the provisions of Section 57(3), 58 (1XaX(b\{c) and (h) and 59 (1) of the Constitution of the Peoples Democratic Party (POP) (As Amended in 2017) suspends the following National Officers from the Party. 1. Senator Samuel Anyanwu – National Secretary 2. Hon. Umar Bature – National Organizing Secretary 3. Barr. Kamaideen Ajibade – National Legal Adviser, 4. Barr. Okechukwu Osuoha – Deputy National Legal Adviser, The above-name National Officers are consequently suspended for a period of one month and referred to the National Disciplinary Committee for further action. During the period of the suspension, the affected officers cease to function in their respective capacities.
Pursuant to Section 36(2) of the POP Constitution, the Deputy National Secretary, Hon. Arc. Setonji Koshoedo shall forthwith act as the National Secretary while the National Director of Legal Services and National Director of Organization are hereby directed to oversee the activities of their respective Directorate.
“While thanking you for your usual cooperation, please accept thee assurances of the National Working Committee’s highest regards,” the PDP said in the letter signed by Amb. Umar Iliya Damagum National Chairman, Amb. Taofeek Arapaja, Deputy National Chairman, Hon. Arch. Setonji Koshoedo, Deputy National Secretary and Hon. Yayari Ahmed, National Treasurer and Dr. Woyengikuro Ambrose Daniel, National Financial Secretary.
The Federal High Court sitting in Gusau, the Zamfara State Capital, has adjourned the hearing of the suit filed to challenge the results of the senatorial primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Zamfara North senatorial district to June 25, 2026.
Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, an aggrieved aspirant in the election, challenged the outcome of the primary election, citing irregularities. He had mentioned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the APC and Sahabi Ya’u Kaura, the party’s senatorial candidate for Zamfara North.
The Tribune reported that when the matter was called for hearing on Tuesday, June 9, the court could not continue with the proceedings over the absence of INEC and the APC, who are the defendants in the suit.
Justice Hassan Dikko of the trial court then adjourned the suit to June 25 for further hearing. Shinkafi is challenging the process and outcome of the ruling party’s national assembly primary election, where Senator Kaura had emerged as the APC candidate for the Zamfara North senatorial district.
Barrister Bello Galadi, the lawyer to the plaintiff, who addressed journalists after the hearing, said Shinkafi was seeking the intervention of the court over what he tagged as a flawed primary election process.
Veteran journalist and publisher of Ovation International, Chief Dele Momodu, has disclosed that former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, once turned down his suggestion to work closely with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar ahead of the 2027 political battle because he believed he had a stronger political following.
Momodu made the revelation while speaking during an interview on the Naija Unfiltered Podcast, where he reflected on his relationship with both politicians and the discussions he had with Obi after the 2023 general election.
According to him, he encouraged the former Anambra State governor to rebuild his political alliance with Atiku, arguing that the ex-Vice President played a major role in bringing Obi to the national stage when he selected him as his running mate in the 2019 presidential election.
“I told Peter why don’t you go and work with Atiku. Atiku was the person who brought him to national prominence,” Momodu said.
The media entrepreneur recalled that Atiku’s decision to settle for Obi as his running mate was not welcomed by some influential figures within the Peoples Democratic Party at the time.
“When Atiku picked Peter, the governors were angry but one thing about Atiku is that once he makes up his mind, he’s a very focused man,” he added.
Momodu explained that he tried to convince Obi by pointing to examples of leaders in different countries who eventually rose to the highest political office after serving as deputies.
“So, I told Peter, I said sir, Your Excellency, try and work with this man (Atiku), then I gave him copious examples. I said if Mahama was not a VP to Prof Atta Mills, maybe he would never be President of Ghana because he came from a minority just like Jonathan in Nigeria,” he said.
“I gave the example of Jonathan, I gave the example in America. Even Joe Biden, who was much older than Obama, still came back to become president because you’re able to demonstrate your capacity.”
Despite the advice, Momodu said Obi was not convinced that such a political arrangement would benefit him.
“You’ve always been a governor of a state but Peter told me he’s more popular than Atiku,” Momodu stated.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has updated its official political party portal, removing Ahmed Yayari and Daniel Woyengikuro from their respective positions as Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Treasurer and National Financial Secretary.
The electoral body replaced them with Odeyemi Mackson Oladiran as the new National Treasurer and Eyim Donatus Henry as the new National Financial Secretary.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that the development comes amid an ongoing internal power struggle within the main opposition party.
The ousted officials, Ahmed and Daniel, belong to the Turaki faction backed by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde. Conversely, the newly listed executives, Odeyemi and Eyim, are loyalists of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, whose camp is recognized by the commission.
The portal before change
Prior to this update, the commission had already recognized the FCT Minister’s camp by listing Abdulrahman Mohammed as the PDP National Chairman and Samuel Anyanwu as the National Secretary.
However, keeping the names of Ahmed Yayari and Daniel on the roster had initially caused confusion. With this latest portal revision, the entirety of the PDP leadership listed on the electoral umpire’s website reflects the camp loyal to Wike.
The party has been embroiled in a leadership contest between the camp under FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and a rival group led by Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, who emerged from a late 2025 party convention.
In the convention in Ibadan where Turaki was elected National Chairman, steps were taken to suspend Wike along with several associates.
The portal showing the recent changes
However, the pro-Wike camp dismissed the convention and established an alternative 13-member Caretaker Committee under the leadership of Abdulrahman Mohammed.
This led to court cases with conflicting judicial outcomes.
An Oyo State High Court originally validated the Ibadan convention and the Turaki-led National Working Committee, directing the electoral body to acknowledge them.
This decision was later overturned by the Court of Appeal in Abuja, which nullified the Ibadan convention and set aside Turaki’s election.
Source: Politics Nigeria
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