The internal crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has escalated yet again, as George Tunah, the Bayelsa State PDP Caretaker Chairman, declared that the National Executive Committee (NEC) lacks the constitutional authority to appoint or remove national officers—a direct challenge to recent moves by party leadership.
Tunah made the statement during an appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Thursday, addressing the controversial reinstatement of Senator Samuel Anyanwu as the party’s National Secretary by Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum—a decision that 11 members of the National Working Committee (NWC) firmly rejected on Wednesday.
“By our constitution, only the national convention has the power to elect or remove national officers,” Tunah argued. “Not even the NEC is constitutionally empowered to override that process.”
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Tunah added that contrary to Damagum’s claim, there was no valid 99th NEC meeting, suggesting that the processes leading to Anyanwu’s purported reinstatement were flawed. He accused party leaders of circumventing due process, warning that internal decisions must adhere strictly to the PDP constitution.
❌ No Proof of Anyanwu’s Resignation
A central issue in the controversy is whether Anyanwu ever formally resigned his position as National Secretary when he contested the Imo State governorship election. While some party members argue his candidacy implied automatic resignation, Tunah insists there is no resignation letter on record, nor has the party complied with statutory procedures under the Electoral Act.
“If he resigned, where is the letter?” Tunah asked. “Under Sections 85 and 86 of the Electoral Act, INEC must be officially informed of such a resignation. That never happened.”
According to Tunah, not only was there no evidence submitted to INEC, but the party’s constitution also does not compel national officers to resign merely for contesting elections, unless a resignation is formally tendered.
🗂️ NWC Fires Back: NEC’s Word is Final
But the 11 NWC members strongly disagree. In a joint statement on Wednesday, they insisted that only the NEC can reinstate Anyanwu, describing Damagum’s pronouncement as “misleading and contrary to NEC resolutions.”
“By Section 31 (3) of the PDP Constitution, NEC’s resolution to hold its 100th meeting on Monday, June 30, 2025, is binding on all party organs and cannot be vetoed,” the statement read.
The NWC also insisted that the scheduled 100th NEC meeting remains in place, dismissing Damagum’s announcement of a cancellation as illegitimate.
⚠️ Power Struggle Intensifies
The fight over who controls the soul of the PDP is far from over. The prolonged leadership vacuum in the National Secretary’s office has now become a symbol of the deeper institutional fractures within Nigeria’s main opposition party.
With conflicting interpretations of the constitution, accusations of procedural violations, and an acting chairman at odds with the majority of the NWC, the PDP appears increasingly divided—raising questions about its readiness for the 2027 general elections.
Until the courts or the PDP national convention speak decisively, the Anyanwu controversy remains a ticking time bomb, threatening to derail what’s left of party unity.
