By Clifford Ndujihe & Luminous Jannamike
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Nigeria’s principal opposition, had anticipated that the state congresses scheduled for late September 2025 would serve as a platform to reinforce control over its state units, restructure leadership, and mend internal divisions ahead of the national convention set for November.
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Contrary to expectations, these congresses have instead unearthed lingering leadership conflicts and highlighted profound fissures within the party. The events have revealed power struggles at the highest levels, inconsistent communication, divided loyalties, and questions surrounding the legitimacy of procedural actions.
Far from being milestones of organizational progress, the congresses became arenas for unresolved disputes, particularly concerning the authority of the national secretariat, the involvement of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and conflicting interpretations of party governance.
Damagum and Anyanwu at Odds
The discord between National Chairman Umar Damagum and National Secretary Senator Samuel Anyanwu has escalated sharply, with each invoking different clauses of the party’s amended 2017 constitution to justify their positions.
Within a span of two days, tensions intensified to the point where observers feared the scheduled national convention on November 15-16 in Ibadan, Oyo State, might be jeopardized.
Anyanwu Challenges Dissolution of Akwa Ibom Executive
The conflict took a dramatic twist when Senator Anyanwu publicly refuted a press statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, which announced the dissolution of the PDP’s Akwa Ibom State Working Committee.
In a letter dated October 1, 2025, addressed to Akwa Ibom State PDP Chairman Aniekan Akpan, Anyanwu declared that the committee remained intact, emphasizing that no official meeting of the National Working Committee (NWC) had authorized such a dissolution. “For clarity, the press release should be disregarded as no formal NWC session sanctioned this decision,” he asserted.
He further accused the National Publicity Secretary of overstepping his authority by attempting to enforce a decision lacking NWC endorsement.
“Issuing directives related to NWC decisions is beyond the remit of the National Publicity Secretary; therefore, the press release is invalid and without effect,” Anyanwu stated.
He affirmed the legitimacy of the Akwa Ibom leadership, instructing them to continue their duties as outlined in the PDP Constitution (2017, amended).
Anyanwu Accuses Damagum of Undermining His Office
In a letter made public on Thursday, Anyanwu accused Damagum of violating Section 36 of the PDP Constitution by undermining the office of the National Secretary and urged him to cease such actions for the party’s sake.
He highlighted that the National Secretary’s responsibilities include managing party correspondence and ensuring the implementation of decisions from the National Convention, NEC, National Caucus, and NWC.
“Your disregard for these constitutional provisions and the issuance of unauthorized notices renders such actions null and void,” Anyanwu wrote, specifically referencing the contested dissolution of Akwa Ibom and Cross River State committees.
He described Damagum’s actions as provocative and unacceptable.
Damagum Responds
National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba defended Damagum’s decisions, citing Section 35 of the PDP Constitution, which designates the National Chairman as the party’s chief executive with authority to convene meetings and assign functions.
Ologunagba affirmed the legality of the NWC’s decision regarding Akwa Ibom, warning against the spread of conflicting narratives. “The meeting that led to the party’s stance was properly convened, with records and video evidence. Any contrary claims are misleading,” he stated.
Regarding the upcoming national convention, he reassured that preparations remain on schedule, involving all chapters and leaders nationwide, with no threats to the process.
Initial Signs of Discord
The first indication of internal strife emerged when the PDP’s national leadership sent contradictory letters to INEC. On September 26, Damagum informed INEC that congresses in Plateau, Cross River, and Kebbi states were postponed due to “operational logistic challenges,” framing the letter as informational rather than formal notice.
Within a day, Anyanwu countered with a letter affirming that the congresses would proceed as planned and urged INEC to disregard the chairman’s communication.
Anyanwu argued that official correspondence to INEC must bear both the National Chairman’s and National Secretary’s signatures, rendering Damagum’s solo letter invalid. This exchange underscored a deeper power struggle over control of the party’s apparatus.
Underlying Divisions
Damagum’s tenure as National Chairman remains contentious. Since the removal of Iyorchia Ayu, the PDP has grappled with internal cohesion, with the National Secretary role frequently at the center of disputes. Critics accuse Damagum of unilateral decision-making and procedural errors.
Anyanwu, backed by a faction of PDP governors and loyalists, insists that the National Secretary’s position is constitutionally protected and cannot be altered without NEC approval. The congress conflicts thus symbolize a broader battle for the party’s direction and control over its legal framework.
State-Level Conflicts
While the Damagum-Anyanwu feud dominated headlines, significant turmoil unfolded within state chapters, where local leaders challenged national directives, asserted independence, or resorted to legal action.
Here are three notable examples:
Cross River: Clash Over Authority
In Cross River State, factions within the national leadership sought to prematurely dissolve the sitting State Working Committee (SWC) and install a caretaker committee. An unsigned press release postponed the state congress and directed the zonal caretaker to assume control pending new elections.
SWC Chairman Venatius Ikem rejected this move, insisting the congress would proceed on September 27 as scheduled. He argued that the NWC lacked constitutional authority to override NEC decisions or preempt state arrangements. Ikem provided documentation confirming his tenure’s expiration on September 29 and threatened legal action against any premature dissolution attempts.
This standoff epitomizes the broader conflict between national and state authority, competing timelines, and questions of procedural legitimacy.
Potential Delays in Plateau and Kebbi
Though details remain sparse, the three states mentioned in Damagum’s postponement letter-Plateau, Kebbi, and Cross River-are linked in the conflicting communications. In Plateau and Cross River, congresses were officially postponed, citing “unforeseen circumstances and operational logistic challenges.”
Whether local chapters accepted these postponements is unclear, but the contradictory letters to INEC reveal these states as battlegrounds for legitimacy rather than orderly internal renewal.
Litigation, Delays, and NEC Rescheduling
Beyond these states, congresses in Abia and Ebonyi remain pending due to ongoing litigation and logistical issues. In several others-including Benue, Ekiti, Kano, Kaduna, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, and Sokoto-congresses were underway or scheduled but delayed reporting and unresolved legal challenges forced the PDP to postpone its NEC meeting originally planned for late September.
Insiders suggest the NEC rescheduling aimed to accommodate pending congress reports from eight states, but critics accuse national leaders of exploiting delays to influence outcomes favorably.
Consequently, the congress crisis extends beyond isolated states, reflecting widespread internal disputes, legal battles, and fragmented national directives.
INEC’s Rejection of PDP Communications
This is not the first instance of friction between PDP and INEC over procedural compliance. In June 2025, INEC rejected the PDP’s notice for its 100th NEC meeting on technical grounds, citing the absence of the National Secretary’s co-signature on a letter signed solely by Acting National Chairman Damagum.
INEC referenced Part 2(12)3 of the “Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties, 2022,” which requires joint signatures from both Chairman and Secretary for notices of conventions, congresses, or meetings.
National Publicity Secretary Ologunagba dismissed INEC’s stance, asserting that the commission should not interfere in internal party matters, especially when no officer elections are involved.
This ongoing dispute highlights the tension between INEC’s regulatory role and the PDP’s insistence on internal autonomy.
The Signature Controversy
Anyanwu’s faction contends that INEC’s refusal to accept letters lacking the Secretary’s signature implicitly favors one party faction over another. His September letter to INEC explicitly instructs that communications without both signatures “should not be honoured.”
This situation places INEC in a delicate position, potentially forcing it to determine which faction’s correspondence is legitimate-a decision fraught with political implications for a supposedly neutral arbiter.
Court Orders and Contempt Issues
Internal disputes have spilled into the judiciary. As early as February 2025, legal counsel for a PDP member warned INEC and the party’s Southeast Zonal Secretary against contempt of a High Court injunction barring the Southeast zonal congress.
Other litigants have sought to halt or invalidate state congresses, particularly where rival claimants contest the legitimacy of sitting executives or caretaker committees. The PDP thus navigates a complex web of constitutional challenges, factional power struggles, regulatory scrutiny, and court injunctions.
A Test of Party Unity
The September congress saga reveals the PDP’s drift from disciplined hierarchy toward fragmented factionalism. Instead of fostering unity, the congresses have become a measure of allegiance and control.
The issuance of conflicting letters to INEC by top leaders underscores the party’s weakened internal consensus.
Declining Institutional Credibility
When a party’s public-facing organs fail to coordinate basic administrative functions, it invites public skepticism. Such disarray provides ammunition for the ruling party and its supporters to depict the opposition as disorganized, ineffective, and illegitimate.
Critics are likely to portray the PDP as inconsistent, vulnerable to legal challenges, and incapable of managing internal conflicts.
Risks Facing State Chapters
State chapters preparing for congresses find themselves caught between local allegiances and unclear national directives. Some may defy national postponements, while others might acquiesce to caretaker administrations, creating confusion among grassroots members about legitimate leadership.
The Cross River example illustrates how a state chapter can assert independence against national orders, but many chapters lack the cohesion or confidence to do so.
INEC’s Discretionary Position
INEC faces a challenging decision on which communications to accept and whether to act on conflicting or procedurally flawed notifications. Its choices-whether to approve, reject, or delay-could significantly influence the PDP’s internal power dynamics.
Impact on the National Convention
The ongoing congress disputes threaten the PDP’s national convention timeline. The NEC meeting initially planned for September was postponed due to incomplete state congress reports.
Delays or disorder at the convention could undermine the party’s preparedness for primary elections, candidate zoning arrangements, and coalition-building efforts ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Looking Ahead
Resolving the Damagum-Anyanwu rift is critical. The faction that secures INEC’s recognition, legal legitimacy, and internal backing will shape whether the PDP can present a united front.
Judicial Intervention as a Last Resort
As internal mechanisms falter, court rulings may become the ultimate arbitrator. This risks transferring party discipline from internal governance to legal adjudication.
INEC’s Emerging Role as Power Broker
If the PDP fails to reconcile its internal divisions, INEC’s procedural gatekeeping-accepting or rejecting letters based on compliance-may inadvertently become a decisive political factor.
Consequences for Grassroots Support
State-level conflicts could demoralize grassroots activists, trigger defections, or empower local factions inclined to break away or align with rival parties.
Legitimacy Challenges for the Convention
The credibility of delegates, state congress outcomes, and the convention itself hinges on the integrity of the entire congress process. Any breakdown risks the 2025-26 PDP convention being widely contested as factional or invalid.