The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared that the notice it received from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) regarding its upcoming national executive council (NEC) meeting did not meet the requirements set out in electoral regulations.
In a letter dated May 30, the PDP had informed INEC of its plan to hold the 100th NEC meeting on June 30 at its national secretariat in Abuja. The notice was signed by the party’s acting national chairman, Umar Damagum, in line with the 21-day notification requirement for such gatherings.
However, in a response dated June 13, INEC stated that the notice was not compliant with part 2(12)3 of the 2022 Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties. The rule mandates that notices for party conventions, congresses, or meetings must be jointly signed by both the national chairman and the national secretary.
INEC’s letter highlighted that the absence of the national secretary’s signature rendered the notice procedurally flawed.
The issue arises amid an ongoing leadership tussle within the PDP over the position of national secretary. Two figures—Samuel Anyanwu and Sunday Udeh-Okoye, are currently laying claim to the role.
The dispute began after the party’s south-east zonal executive nominated Udeh-Okoye to replace Anyanwu, who had emerged as the PDP’s governorship candidate in Imo State in 2023. Anyanwu sought multiple court injunctions to block the move, but the Court of Appeal ruled on December 20, 2024, in favour of Udeh-Okoye, dismissing the earlier high court ruling that supported Anyanwu.
Following the appellate court’s decision, Udeh-Okoye asserted himself as the legitimate national secretary. However, Anyanwu contends that he immediately appealed the ruling and applied for a stay of execution at the Supreme Court.
In March 2025, a five-member Supreme Court panel dismissed the case, stating that the dispute over the national secretary position is an internal party matter and not subject to judicial review.
With the matter unresolved within the PDP, INEC’s rejection of the NEC meeting notice underscores the challenges the party faces in navigating its internal leadership conflict ahead of the scheduled meeting
