PDP

The Acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ambassador Umar Damagum, today led a delegation of top party officials to a closed-door meeting with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja, as part of efforts to resolve lingering confusion surrounding the office of the party’s National Secretary.

The meeting, held at INEC’s national headquarters, was convened at the request of the PDP, following what the party described as “procedural ambiguities” and “conflicting legal interpretations” that have plagued its internal leadership structure since a recent Supreme Court ruling.

In his opening remarks before the meeting moved behind closed doors, Damagum expressed gratitude to the electoral body for granting the audience, noting that the visit was intended to facilitate mutual understanding and guide the party’s next steps.

“We are here today, as you are aware, to discuss issues pertaining to the status of our National Secretary,” Damagum said. “We have gone into litigation from the beginning of last year until the Supreme Court made a pronouncement, of which INEC was a party. Our National Executive Committee has mandated me to communicate our position and to seek procedural clarity.”

He explained that the goal of the engagement was to prevent further public confusion and ensure proper documentation with INEC. “We want to interact sincerely with you off-camera so that we can return with a clear path forward,” he added.

In response, INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, welcomed the delegation and emphasised the Commission’s openness to dialogue with political stakeholders.

“This meeting is at the instance of your party, and as regulators of political parties, we are always available to engage,” Yakubu stated. He noted that the PDP’s situation mirrors similar engagements with other parties, referencing a recent meeting with the Labour Party over its own internal matters.

Yakubu pointed out that the source of the controversy stemmed from inconsistencies in the PDP’s communication, particularly letters regarding National Executive Committee (NEC) meetings and the identity of the National Secretary.

He cited an instance in which the PDP invited INEC to its 100th NEC meeting through a letter signed solely by the party chairman, a departure from standard protocol that requires co-signature by both chairman and secretary.

“For your 100th NEC meeting, we were invited by a letter signed only by the chairman. I am glad to note that 99 times in the past, the invitation was properly signed by both the chairman and secretary,” Yakubu noted.

The INEC Chairman also revealed that the Commission had received multiple conflicting letters from the PDP regarding the identity of the National Secretary.

“In recent months, we have received letters referring to different individuals as secretary—Ude Okoye, Samuel Anyanwu, Architect Setonji Koshoedo, and then again Anyanwu. The latest correspondence did not bear the signature of any secretary at all,” he said.

He stressed the need for the party to resolve the dispute internally and ensure that subsequent communications to INEC conform with established protocols. “As regulators, we are here to understand your position and clarify our expectations,” he concluded.

At the time of filing this report, the two parties had moved into a closed-door session.