The Independent National Electoral Commission has rejected the Peoples Democratic Party’s notification for its upcoming National Executive Council meeting, citing non-compliance with electoral regulations governing party gatherings.
The electoral body’s decision stems from a procedural dispute involving the PDP’s ongoing leadership crisis, particularly over the contested position of national secretary that has created uncertainty about who has the authority to co-sign official party documents.
In a letter dated May 30, the PDP had formally notified INEC of its intention to hold its 100th NEC meeting on June 30 at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja. The notice was signed solely by acting national chairman Umar Damagum, in accordance with the required 21-day advance notification period for such meetings.
However, INEC responded on June 13, declaring the notification invalid due to missing signatures. In its response, the commission stated that the notice failed to comply with “part 2(12)3 of the 2022 Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties,” which requires that notices for party conventions, congresses, or meetings be jointly signed by both the national chairman and national secretary.
The electoral commission’s letter specifically noted that “the absence of the national secretary’s signature rendered the notice procedurally flawed,” highlighting the technical nature of the regulatory breach.
The rejection exposes the deeper institutional challenges facing the PDP, where two individuals currently claim the position of national secretary. Samuel Anyanwu and Sunday Udeh-Okoye are both asserting their legitimacy for the role, creating confusion about who has the authority to co-sign official party documents alongside the national chairman.
The dispute originated when the party’s south-east zonal executive nominated Udeh-Okoye to replace Anyanwu, who had become the PDP’s governorship candidate in Imo State during the 2023 elections. Anyanwu challenged this move through multiple court injunctions, seeking to retain his position as national secretary.
The legal battle progressed through various court levels, with the Court of Appeal ruling on December 20, 2024, in favor of Udeh-Okoye. The appellate court dismissed an earlier high court decision that had supported Anyanwu’s claim to the position.
Following the Court of Appeal’s decision, Udeh-Okoye moved to assert himself as the legitimate national secretary. However, Anyanwu maintained his challenge, stating that he “immediately appealed the ruling and applied for a stay of execution at the Supreme Court.”
The matter reached its judicial conclusion in March 2025 when a five-member Supreme Court panel dismissed the case entirely. The apex court ruled that “the dispute over the national secretary position is an internal party matter and not subject to judicial review,” effectively removing the courts from the PDP’s internal leadership struggles.
Despite the Supreme Court’s position that the matter should be resolved internally, the PDP has been unable to definitively settle the national secretary dispute, leaving the party in a procedural bind when it comes to meeting INEC’s regulatory requirements.
The commission’s rejection of the NEC meeting notice demonstrates how the unresolved leadership conflict continues to have practical implications for the party’s operations and its ability to conduct official business in accordance with electoral regulations.
With the scheduled June 30 meeting date approaching, the PDP now faces the challenge of resolving its internal leadership dispute or finding an alternative way to satisfy INEC’s joint signature requirement before it can proceed with its planned National Executive Council gathering.
