The ongoing internal crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is creating a rift among its stakeholders regarding the legitimacy of its current Board of Trustees (BoT).
Within the party, there is a division as some members question the validity of meetings held by the PDP BoT, arguing that its tenure has lapsed. Others contend that, amidst the existing turmoil, it is acceptable for current members to maintain control over party affairs.
Recent information indicates that 85 out of the 127 BoT members have not participated in board activities. Reports suggest that decisions made by the BoT have lacked the necessary quorum, raising concerns over compliance with the PDP constitution.
A senior party member, speaking anonymously, stated that 42 statutory members should not be making decisions on behalf of the BoT due to insufficient numbers.
PDP Faces Internal Challenges
The PDP has been grappling with persistent internal strife since the 2023 general elections, resulting in increased instability and division among party ranks.
Criticism has mounted against Umar Damagum, the party’s acting National Chairman, particularly following his ascension after Iyorchia Ayu’s departure. The ongoing crisis has been worsened by contention over the National Secretary position, which saw the South-East zone nominate Sunday Ude-Okoye to succeed Senator Samuel Anyanwu.
This nomination has ignited further discord, with factions advocating for Anyanwu’s resignation due to his new political obligations, culminating in a court decision that affirmed Ude-Okoye as the new National Secretary.
However, leadership tensions remain unresolved, particularly after an altercation on January 28, when Anyanwu’s supporters forcibly ejected Ude-Okoye from a BoT meeting, necessitating police intervention.
In a show of support for the court ruling, PDP governors, led by Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, urged the National Working Committee to adopt the decision.
Anyanwu, in his communication to law enforcement and judiciary bodies, maintains he is still the rightful National Secretary, denouncing the governors’ actions as exacerbating the ongoing crisis.
Recently, Wabara, representing the BoT, also backed Ude-Okoye, asserting that their conclusion was based on a comprehensive assessment of the situation.
Anyanwu responded by highlighting the expiration of tenures for many BoT members and their lack of authority to make such decisions. He stated that numerous state nominees are pending and emphasized that the BoT is currently dysfunctional.
According to our investigation, references to the PDP Constitution affirm that Wabara’s recent meetings do not satisfy quorum requirements as outlined in Section 32(10-11), which stipulates that a two-thirds representation from at least two-thirds of the states is essential for validity.
Attempts to contact key PDP leaders for comment remained unanswered.
Critics within the party have labeled Wabara’s actions as invalid, with the Deputy National Youth Leader, Timothy Osadolor, calling for the current board members to recognize the expiration of their tenures.
Leadership Response Amidst Controversy
Meanwhile, Senator Umar Ibrahim-Tsauri, a BoT member, acknowledged that while tenures have indeed lapsed, he argues that the board’s decision to continue functioning is necessary due to the party’s troubling circumstances. He stated that steps are being taken to nominate replacements for those whose tenures are no longer valid.
Tsauri emphasized that the situation demands the wisdom and experience of the BoT members to navigate the current challenges facing the PDP.
