The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has reaffirmed its decision to proceed with its 100th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting scheduled for June 30, declaring that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has no legal authority to stop a statutory party gathering.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Sunday, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, criticized the Acting Secretary of INEC, Halilu Aminu, for allegedly overstepping his bounds by questioning the legitimacy of the meeting’s notice.
Ologunagba emphasized that INEC's statutory role only covers party conventions, congresses, or primaries where officers or candidates are elected, not regular party meetings like those of the NEC or National Working Committee (NWC). He noted that the Supreme Court has consistently upheld this position.
“INEC cannot cancel our meetings. These are internal party matters, and it is the prerogative of the party to decide when and how to hold them,” he said. “We never declared that the meeting was for electing officers, holding primaries, or nominating candidates.”
The controversy follows an internal leadership tussle over the position of National Secretary between Sunday Udeh-Okoye and Senator Samuel Anyanwu, a dispute that has stalled previous NEC meetings. To address this, the PDP named Setonji Koshoedo as Acting National Secretary. However, a fact-finding committee led by Taraba State Governor Kefas Agbu reported that INEC still recognizes Anyanwu as the legitimate officeholder.
On May 30, the Acting National Chairman of the PDP, Umar Damagum, formally notified INEC of the June 30 NEC meeting. INEC rejected the notice, stating that such communications must be co-signed by both the National Chairman and National Secretary, in line with its guidelines.
Ologunagba rejected INEC’s position, arguing that the Commission has no jurisdiction over party matters unrelated to electoral processes. He accused Aminu of assigning a false purpose to the meeting and acting in the interest of undisclosed political agendas.
He added that the June 30 meeting would review progress toward the party's upcoming national convention, including reports from the Zoning and Convention Committees constituted during the 99th NEC meeting.
“This is a clear attempt to undermine the PDP. Why the desperation to kill political parties?” Ologunagba asked. “This country will not become a one-party state. No matter how powerful any individual is, even a combination of presidents cannot make it happen.”
He stressed that the PDP is determined to hold the meeting as planned and will brief the public if there are any changes.
ADEOLA KUNLE
