The leadership crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) continues to spiral, despite attempts at brokering peace through a newly formed reconciliation committee headed by former Senate President Bukola Saraki.
Appointed ahead of the party’s crucial May 27 National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, the Saraki-led panel was tasked with resolving internal disputes. However, sources within the party told Sunday PUNCH that the committee’s endorsement of Senator Samuel Anyanwu’s return as National Secretary has further exacerbated tensions.
The decision has reportedly angered key stakeholders, including the PDP Governors’ Forum, members of the National Working Committee (NWC), and the Board of Trustees (BoT), many of whom view it as a step backward in the party’s fragile reconciliation process.
The PDP has been embroiled in internal strife since its disappointing performance in the 2023 general elections. The situation worsened in December 2024, when a court ruling and the South-East zonal caucus recognised former National Youth Leader Sunday Udeh-Okoye as the legitimate National Secretary—a move initially endorsed by the PDP governors, NWC, and BoT.
Senator Anyanwu, however, rejected the ruling and took the matter to the Supreme Court, further deepening the leadership dispute.
