…Anyanwu issues notice for caucus meeting
…Arapaja insists on NEC meeting
The ongoing crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Sunday, deepened further as two principal figures, Samuel Anyanwu, the embattled National Secretary and Taofeek Arapaja, Deputy National Chairman South, issued counter notice of meetings for national caucus and National Executive Committee (NEC) meetings respectively.
Anyanwu had earlier issued notice of an expanded special national caucus meeting of the party, on Monday, 30th June, instead of the earlier scheduled National Executive Committee NEC meeting.
This was however in defiance of an earlier decision by members of the party at the 99th NEC meeting of 27th May, to hold the 100th NEC on June 30 (tomorrow).
Arapaja, while addressing journalists at the party secretariat, urged the party members to ignore Anyanwu’s statement.
National Working Committee (NWC) members led by Arapaja and the Board of Trustees (BoT), had earlier insisted that it will go ahead with the scheduled NEC meeting.
But Anyanwu, had in the statement, said the “NWC of our Great Party, PDP, wishes to inform and invite the following Stakeholders to a Special Expanded National Caucus Meeting”.
The meeting is fixed for National Secretariat (NEC Hall), Wadata Plaza, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja FCT.
Anyanwu listed those invited to include Statutory Members of National Caucus, Deputy National Officers and all members of the party’s Board of Trustees BoT.
All the State Chairmen, Members of PDP NASS Caucus, former NWC members (Still in the Party) and all national Ex-Officio Members were also expected to attend the meeting.
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Anyanwu also extended invitation to PDP former Governors and all the immediate Past Gubernatorial Candidates, who are still in the party.
But Arapaja, while addressing journalists in Abuja on Sunday night, insisted that the party will go on with the “100th meeting of the NEC statutorily scheduled for tomorrow, Monday, June 30, 2025 and the National Convention scheduled for Thursday 28 to Saturday 30 August, 2025.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the National Working Committee (NWC) assures all Party members that the 100th NEC meeting will proceed as scheduled tomorrow Monday, 30th June, 2025 at the NEC Hall of the Wadata Plaza, PDP National Secretariat, Abuja,” Arapaja wrote.
“The 100th NEC meeting will among other things receive updates on the activities of the Zoning Committee and the National Convention Organizing Committee.”
He recalled that the 100th meeting was unanimously scheduled by NEC at its 99th meeting held on Tuesday, 27th May, 2025.
“By virtue of Section 31(3) of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017) the Monday, 30th June, 2025 date for the 100th NEC meeting is binding on all Organs and members, and as such no Organ, group or officer of the Party has the power to alter, change, vary, veto or convert the already convened NEC meeting.
Read also: INEC has no powers to stop our 100th NEC meeting – PDP
“Contrary to a purported notice being circulated in the social media suggesting that the 100th NEC meeting has been converted to a Special Expanded National Caucus meeting, the NWC states in clear terms that the said Notice did not emanate from the PDP and should be disregarded,” he added.
Arapaja added: “The NWC emphasises that there is no provision whatsoever for an “Expanded National Caucus” in the Constitution of the PDP or any Guideline of the Party.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Section 30 of the Constitution of the PDP is unambiguous in providing for a National Caucus for the Party with its composition, functions and meetings clearly spelt out, leaving no room for any form of expansion.
“The suggestion, proposal or announcement for a ‘Special Expanded National Caucus meeting’ is therefore unconstitutional and cannot take any decision for the PDP being not a recognized Organ or Body in the PDP.”
He insisted that the PDP is a political Party build on the foundation and pedestal of strict adherence to the Rule of Law, guided by the due process of our Party Constitution and the ethos of internal democracy, which values must be protected and preserved at all time.
“The NWC acknowledges the support and solidarity of the members of the PDP and reassures that the 100th NEC meeting and the National Convention will go on as scheduled by NEC,” he said.
