The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has dismissed claims of internal crisis, insisting that recent controversies arose from a “misunderstanding of roles” within its leadership structure.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja over the weekend, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, explained that National Secretary Senator Samuel Anyanwu performs strictly administrative functions and does not have the authority to summon meetings or act independently of the National Chairman, Umar Damagun.
According to Ologunagba, the PDP constitution clearly outlines the Secretary’s duties as chief administrative and accounting officer. These responsibilities, he said, include supervising the day-to-day running of the party, managing correspondences, and ensuring that directives from the National Convention, National Executive Committee (NEC), National Caucus, and National Working Committee (NWC) are implemented.
“He cannot call a meeting or issue a statement without directives from the Chairman,” Ologunagba stressed. “If there is no diesel in the office, or if parking spaces need to be arranged, it is his duty to ensure those administrative matters are handled. His role is about coordination and paperwork, not policy direction.”
Drawing on his own professional experience, Ologunagba likened Anyanwu’s position to that of a company secretary, who cannot summon board meetings without instructions from the Managing Director or Chairman.
He further clarified that when the NWC passes a resolution, it is the Secretary’s responsibility to ensure its execution, not to initiate actions on his own.
Reassuring party members, Ologunagba dismissed reports of discord, saying:
“There is no crisis in the PDP. What exists is simply a misconception of roles. Our party remains stable, united, and committed to its responsibilities.”
