The Independent National Electoral Commission has rejected the PDP’s NEC meeting notification, citing non-compliance with electoral guidelines due to the lack of the National Secretary’s co-signature
The PDP NEC Meeting planned for June 30, 2025, has hit a procedural hurdle. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) rejected the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) notification for the gathering.
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INEC insists the letter informing them of the meeting lacked compliance with relevant electoral guidelines, particularly the absence of the National Secretary’s co signature.
In a letter dated June 13, 2025, and addressed to the party’s Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, the Commission pointed out that the notification did not meet the provisions of the 2022 Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties.
The PDP had earlier informed INEC of its intention to hold a NEC meeting at its National Secretariat in Abuja through a letter dated May 30, 2025.
INEC specifically cited Part 2(12)3 of the guideline. This section mandates that “the National Chairman and National Secretary of the Party shall jointly sign the notice of convention, congress, conference or meeting and submit same to the Commission.”
The letter, signed by the Acting Secretary to the Commission, Hajiya Hau’ru Aminu, clearly emphasised that the PDP’s notice lacked the required joint endorsement.
While the PDP had submitted the notification within the stipulated 21 day legal timeframe, it was reportedly signed solely by Damagum without the signature of the party’s National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu. Senator Anyanwu is a known political ally of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.
The Commission plainly stated that the notice was not in compliance and advised the party to be guided accordingly.
This development emerges amid heightened internal crisis within the PDP. SaharaReporters earlier confirmed that the Independent National Electoral Commission recognised Senator Samuel Anyanwu as the official National Secretary of the party.
This confirmation became public during the PDP’s 99th NEC meeting held at Legacy House, Wadata Plaza, Abuja.
At that meeting, the party’s National Caucus fact finding committee, led by Taraba State Governor Agbu Kefas, informed NEC members that INEC had upheld Anyanwu’s position.
They cited a Supreme Court judgment and a lack of due process in attempts to remove him. In a move to address the lingering controversy, the PDP had on Monday inaugurated a three member verification committee to confirm Anyanwu’s status.
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This committee, chaired by Governor Kefas, also includes Governors Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), Peter Mbah (Enugu), and PDP National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN).
