Saraki Under Fire! PDP Governors, BoT Fume Over Fresh Internal Upheaval

The ongoing crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) shows no sign of easing, despite the recent formation of a reconciliation committee headed by former Senate President Bukola Saraki, alongside six other members.

This committee was established in anticipation of the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting scheduled for May 27.

According to insider sources who spoke to Sunday PUNCH, the situation has worsened following the Saraki-led committee’s backing of Senator Samuel Anyanwu to return as the party’s National Secretary. This decision has reportedly triggered fresh controversy and opposition from several key party organs, including the PDP Governors’ Forum, the National Working Committee (NWC), the Board of Trustees (BoT), and other stakeholders.

The PDP’s internal conflict, which traces back to the aftermath of the 2023 general elections, escalated further in December 2024 when the South-East zonal caucus and a lower court recognized Sunday Udeh-Okoye, a former National Youth Leader, as the legitimate National Secretary.

While the party’s governors, the BoT, and the NWC initially accepted the court’s ruling, Anyanwu challenged the decision at the Supreme Court. On March 21, the apex court dismissed his removal, citing that intra-party matters are not within the judiciary’s jurisdiction.

Following the ruling, PDP governors asked the South-East to nominate a replacement, leading to the emergence of Setonji Koshoedo, the Deputy National Secretary, as Acting Secretary. His nomination was approved by the NWC at its 600th meeting on April 29.

However, disputes over the National Secretary position persist, fracturing the leadership even further. To manage the situation before the May 27 NEC meeting and the upcoming elective convention in August, current and former PDP governors appointed Saraki to head a seven-member reconciliation team.

On May 14, The PUNCH reported exclusively that Saraki, after a May 12 meeting with Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum, National Legal Adviser Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN), and National Organising Secretary Umar Bature, gave Anyanwu the go-ahead to resume his role.

This move infuriated the South-East caucus, led by Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah and PDP BoT Chairman Adolphus Wabara. In a subsequent meeting, they reaffirmed Udeh-Okoye as their preferred candidate and warned they might reconsider their loyalty to the PDP if their choice is not upheld.

A senior party official, speaking anonymously to Sunday PUNCH, revealed that several leaders—including Mbah, Wabara, Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri, and some NWC members—were frustrated with Saraki’s decision, which they claim was made without proper consultation.

“There’s growing dissatisfaction over how Saraki handled the issue. He consulted only a few NWC members and unilaterally endorsed Anyanwu’s return without engaging the full panel, the entire NWC, or even the governors who appointed him,” the source said.

“Governors like Makinde, Mbah, Lawal, and Diri see this as a slight against them. It appears to be an intentional move to undermine their authority and influence within the party.”

He added that the party had achieved a fragile peace after the governors nominated Koshoedo and his appointment was ratified by the NWC—until Saraki’s actions reignited tensions.

“What stakeholders really want is lasting peace in the PDP. They want the South-East’s input to be respected, not dismissed in favour of personal agendas,” the source said.

It was also disclosed that Koshoedo’s name has already been forwarded to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the PDP’s recognized National Secretary.