All is not well within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as National Chairman, Umar Damagum, and National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, have issued conflicting instructions to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) regarding the conduct of state congresses in three states.
In a letter dated September 25 and obtained by BELLNEWS, Damagum informed INEC that the party’s scheduled congresses in Cross River, Plateau, and Kebbi States — earlier fixed for Saturday, September 27, 2025 — had been postponed due to “unforeseen circumstances and operational logistic challenges.”
In the letter, Damagum stated that a new date for the exercise would be communicated to the electoral body in due course.
“The National Working Committee of our great party hereby postpones the state congresses in Cross River, Plateau, and Kebbi States. A new date will be communicated to the Commission,” the letter read in part.
However, barely 24 hours later, PDP National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, wrote a counter-letter to INEC dated September 26, insisting that the congresses would proceed as originally scheduled.
“This is to confirm to the Commission that the Congress will hold as originally scheduled and has not been postponed. The earlier letter signed by the National Chairman should be ignored,” Anyanwu stated.
He further warned that any communication sent to INEC without the signatures of both the National Chairman and National Secretary should not be recognised, stressing that the exercise in the three states “shall hold as earlier scheduled.”
The PDP has been grappling with a series of leadership crises in recent months, as rival factions and party organs continue to clash over control and decision-making ahead of its elective Congress and the 2027 general elections.