***Atiku backs reconciliation, insists on coalition
*** PDP a dead party resisting burial – APC
The crisis in the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, continues to escalate with no resolution in sight, despite the appointment of former Senate President Bukola Saraki and six others to a reconciliation committee ahead of the May 27 National Executive Committee meeting.
Senior party sources who spoke to DECENCY GLOBAL NEWS revealed that the Saraki-led panel’s endorsement of Senator Samuel Anyanwu’s return as National Secretary had created more problems.
Our correspondent learnt that the decision did not go down well with the PDP Governors’ Forum, members of the National Working Committee, the Board of Trustees, and other party stakeholders, thereby reigniting tension within the party.
The PDP has been grappling with internal conflict since the 2023 elections, which intensified in December 2024 when the South-East zonal caucus and a lower court recognised former National Youth Leader, Sunday Udeh-Okoye, as the National Secretary.
Although PDP governors, the BoT, and the NWC accepted the court’s decision, Anyanwu contested it at the Supreme Court.
On March 21, the court dismissed his removal, ruling that internal party issues were not within the judiciary’s purview.
Following the verdict, on April 14, PDP governors requested the South-East to put forward a new nominee, resulting in the selection of the Deputy Scribe, Setonji Koshoedo, as Acting Secretary.
The NWC later approved his nomination during its 600th meeting on April 29.
Despite these moves, disagreements over the National Secretary position continue to divide the party’s leadership.
To resolve the crisis ahead of the May 27 NEC meeting and the August elective convention, current and former governors appointed Saraki to head a seven-member reconciliation committee.
On May 14, DECENCY GLOBAL NEWS exclusively reported that Saraki, after a meeting on May 12 with the Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN), and National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature, gave Anyanwu the green light to resume as National Secretary.
This decision angered the South-East Zonal Caucus, led by Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah and PDP BoT Chairman, Adolphus Wabara.
In a meeting on Wednesday, they unanimously reaffirmed Sunday Udeh-Okoye as their preferred candidate for the role and warned that they might reconsider their commitment to the PDP if their decision was not respected.
A senior PDP leader, who spoke to DECENCY GLOBAL NEWS on condition of anonymity, disclosed that the South-East caucus, along with Mbah, the BoT Chairman, Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri, and some members of the NWC, were upset that the Saraki-led panel endorsed Anyanwu’s resumption without consulting them.
The source stated, “There is renewed agitation over the way Saraki handled the situation. He met with just a few NWC members and decided that Anyanwu should resume office as National Secretary, without consulting the full panel, the entire NWC, or even the governors who assigned him the task.
“I can tell you that some governors like Seyi Makinde, the Enugu State governor, the Zamfara State governor, and even the Bayelsa State governor are not happy about it. They see it as a deliberate move to undermine them and portray them as weak.
“Even some NWC members are uncomfortable with the decision. They expected the Saraki-led panel to meet with them before arriving at such a conclusion.
“Remember, things had been relatively calm since the governors nominated and the NWC approved Koshoedo as National Secretary, until Saraki’s meeting with a few NWC members stirred things up.
“What the governors, the BoT chairman, and several NWC members want is peace within the PDP. They want the interest of the South-East, which made the nomination, to be protected and respected, not for the party’s unity to be sacrificed in favour of a few individuals.”
A PDP chieftain told DECENCY GLOBAL NEWS that the name of the Deputy National Secretary of the PDP was forwarded to the Independent National Electoral Commission as the party’s scribe.
“I am aware that as of Wednesday, Koshoedo’s name was forwarded to INEC; he is the recognised secretary of the party as of today. I am not aware of any other arrangement outside that,” the source said.
Another party insider confirmed that the decision to endorse Anyanwu did not go down well with many of the party leaders.
He, however, warned that defying the Supreme Court’s ruling could have disastrous consequences for the PDP.
“The recent uproar is because the panel understands the law and upheld the Supreme Court judgment in favour of Anyanwu. Saraki did not personally clear Anyanwu; the panel simply respected the Supreme Court ruling, which was the right thing to do.
“Nigeria is not a lawless country. If these leaders choose to disregard the Supreme Court judgment, it could be used against the party in the future. Remember, we are talking about the position of National Secretary—that’s like the engine of the party. If this continues, it could affect the party’s National Executive Committee, the National Elective Convention, and even future elections,” the source said.
DECENCY GLOBAL NEWS attempts to get a response from Saraki through his media aide, Yusuph Olaniyonu, and from the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, were unsuccessful, as neither of them answered their calls as of press time.
Atiku insists on coalition
When contacted, the PDP’s 2023 Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, expressed support for the ongoing reconciliation efforts.
Speaking through his Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, Atiku stressed that the coalition represented a unified and strategic effort vital to the nation’s recovery, adding that the PDP and other opposition parties could not afford to be weakened or inactive.
The former vice president stated, “The PDP’s efforts to resolve issues are ongoing and unimpeded. Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar will give his support to that process. He has said he remains a member of the PDP.
“Also, the reconciliatory efforts and coalition efforts are complementary. They are not based on hysteria. And yes, the coalition will proceed. It is going to go on. All the efforts to resolve the issues in the PDP will also continue. The two decisions are important.
“You see, the PDP cannot afford to be handicapped in any shape or form. And the Labour Party cannot afford to be handicapped in any shape or form. The NNPP cannot afford to be handicapped in any shape or form. And so also all the other opposition parties that truly understand and appreciate that Nigeria is at a crossroads and that concerted efforts are needed to save the country.
“They need to be active, strong, and vibrant. The coalition is meant to harmonise their strengths. Because Nigerians truly want change. They are sick and tired of this administration that continues to make life miserable.”
In response to the ongoing crisis within the PDP, NEC members, former National Secretary Ibrahim Tsauri, and former Deputy National Publicity Secretary Diran Odeyemi expressed optimism that the PDP would emerge stronger.
Tsauri, in an interview with DECENCY GLOBAL NEWS, described the disagreements as a natural occurrence in any genuine, people-oriented political party.
He stated, “The PDP is a genuine, people-oriented party. It is a party for the people, so disagreements are expected due to varying interests. But I can assure you that we will resolve all these issues, and the party will bounce back to winning ways. The PDP is the only party that has members in every family, ward, local government.
“The issue of the chairman did not disrupt the party. The issue of the secretary, I don’t believe it should be another matter that will be of serious concern or a serious crisis to the party.
“Considering the fact that, whether anybody likes it or not, by December, either Udeh-Okoye or Anyanwu—all of them will have to leave that office for a new set of NWC members.
“The secretary issue will continue to be a noise that will fizzle out by December, when we have the opportunity to elect new officers to run the affairs of the party for the next four years.
“PDP will bounce back stronger. The recent meeting that comprised four stakeholders, they all still came together to discuss all these issues, is enough signal that PDP cannot die. It has remained a brand that cannot die. We will have crises, but they will be resolved.”
PDP a dead party – APC
Responding to the situation in the PDP, the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, dismissed the party as politically irrelevant.
The APC Publicity Director, Bala Ibrahim, told DECENCY GLOBAL NEWS that the Saraki-led panel and other reconciliation efforts would yield no results, describing the opposition party as “an idea whose time has passed.”
He stated, “No doubt, the PDP is a dead party that is resistant to rest in the grave. The party is dead. No amount of cosmetics will revive it. It is dead. So, the mandate of Saraki’s committee is dead on arrival. There is just nothing meaningful that can be achieved because the party is dead.
“They should admit and acknowledge the meaning and position of change in politics. PDP is an idea whose time has passed; it cannot be revived through cosmetics. The people have lost confidence in the party. The people will not do anything to change their position. The best thing is for the party to accept defeat and surrender.”
