JUST IN: INEC Confirms PDP Suspension of Anyanwu, Three Other National Officers Loyal to Wike

INEC Confirms PDP Suspension of Anyanwu, Three Other National Officers Loyal to Wike

 

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has acknowledged receiving formal notice from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) regarding the suspension of four top national officers, including the National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu.

 

The suspended officials are reportedly loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

 

News Week Nigeria reports that the other affected officers are the National Organising Secretary, Captain Umar Bature (retd.); the National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN); and the Deputy National Legal Adviser, Okechukwu Osuoha.

 

Their suspension was announced in a communiqué issued on Wednesday following an emergency meeting of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) held in Abuja. The party disclosed that the decision stemmed from resolutions reached during the 608th emergency meeting of the National Working Committee (NWC), where the four officers were sanctioned for alleged anti-party activities.

 

A letter notifying INEC of the development was signed by the Acting National Chairman, Umar Iliya Damagum, along with several senior party leaders. The party cited Sections 57(3), 58(1)(a)(b)(c)(h), and 59(1) of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017) as the basis for the disciplinary action.

 

“The NWC, pursuant to the provisions of the PDP Constitution, suspends the following national officers from the party: Senator Samuel Anyanwu – National Secretary; Hon. Umar Bature – National Organising Secretary; Barr. Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN) – National Legal Adviser; Barr. Okechukwu Osuoha – Deputy National Legal Adviser,” the letter read.

 

The suspension, which will last for one month, bars the officials from carrying out their duties and refers them to the National Disciplinary Committee for further investigation.

 

In accordance with Section 36(2) of the PDP Constitution, the Deputy National Secretary, Hon. Setonji Koshoedo, has been appointed as Acting National Secretary. The National Director of Legal Services and the National Director of Organisation have also been directed to oversee their respective departments pending further directives.

 

The letter — jointly signed by Damagum, Deputy National Chairman (South) Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja; Koshoedo; National Treasurer Hon. Yayari Ahmed; and National Financial Secretary Dr. Woyengikuro Ambrose Daniel — assured INEC of the party’s commitment to due process, discipline, and internal cohesion.