The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially confirmed receipt of a notification from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) regarding the suspension of four senior national officers, including the party’s National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu.
The suspended officials also include the National Organising Secretary, Captain Umar Bature (retd.); the National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN); and the Deputy National Legal Adviser, Okechukwu Osuoha.
According to Gossip News Now, the development was disclosed in a communiqué issued on Wednesday following an emergency meeting of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) held in Abuja.
The party informed INEC through a formal letter that the decision to suspend the officers was reached during the 608th emergency meeting of the National Working Committee (NWC). The suspension was based on allegations of anti-party activities, citing relevant provisions of the PDP Constitution — specifically Sections 57(3), 58(1)(a)(b)(c)(h) and 59(1) of the 2017 amended version.
“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 stated.
The statement further noted that the suspended officials “shall cease to function in their respective capacities” during the one-month suspension period, pending the outcome of a review by the National Disciplinary Committee.
In the interim, Hon. (Arc.) Setonji Koshoedo, the Deputy National Secretary, has been directed to serve as Acting National Secretary in line with Section 36(2) of the party’s constitution.
Additionally, the National Director of Legal Services and the National Director of Organisation have been tasked with supervising their respective departments until further notice.
The letter to INEC, signed by Acting National Chairman Amb. Umar Iliya Damagum, Deputy National Chairman Amb. Taofeek Arapaja, Deputy National Secretary Arc. Setonji Koshoedo, National Treasurer Hon. Yayari Ahmed, and National Financial Secretary Dr. Woyengikuro Ambrose Daniel, expressed appreciation for the commission’s cooperation.
The PDP emphasized that the decision was made to uphold internal discipline and protect the integrity of the party’s leadership amid ongoing internal disputes and allegations of factional activities.
