By Edem Ekpo
The internal crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has taken a dramatic turn as the party’s National Chairman, Umar Damagum, and National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, have endorsed the conduct of the Cross River State congress, overruling an earlier decision by the National Working Committee (NWC) to postpone the exercise.
In a letter dated Friday, September 26, 2025, and addressed to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the PDP leadership confirmed that congresses in Cross River, Plateau, and Kebbi States would proceed as scheduled on Saturday, September 27, 2025.
The correspondence, signed by Senator Anyanwu, emphasized that no postponement had been approved and cautioned that any directive not jointly signed by both the National Secretary and the National Chairman should be disregarded.
“This is to confirm to the Commission that the congress will hold as originally scheduled and has not been postponed. The earlier letter signed by the National Chairman should be ignored,” the letter read in part.
The reaffirmation by the two top officers aligns them with stakeholders in Cross River who have insisted on holding the congress as planned, despite the NWC’s contrary directive. Copies of the letter were also sent to Resident Electoral Commissioners in the affected states to avert confusion.
While the intervention may have eased immediate tension, observers warn that the conflicting directives could further deepen the crisis rocking the PDP as it braces for crucial state and national elections.