Convention: PDP crisis deepens as Anyanwu alleges forgery, petitions DSS

The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party has taken a new twist as the party’s National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, has petitioned the Department of State Services, Inspector General of Police and the Independent National Electoral Commission over an alleged forgery of his signature, a development that further threatens the conduct of the party’s planned November national convention.

In petitions dated October 15 and submitted to INEC, DSS, and the IGP on October 16, obtained by PUNCH Online, Anyanwu asserted that he never signed the August 29 letter to INEC regarding the November 15–16 National Convention.

Recall that despite the decision to hold its National Elective Convention in Ibadan, Oyo State, on November 15 and 16, tension persists within the PDP as allies of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, continue to express discontent with the leadership of Acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum.

Their concerns revolve around unresolved disputes over South-South zonal leadership, control of party structures in Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Plateau, and other states, as well as disagreements on the micro-zoning formula for the upcoming convention. These disputes have now escalated into a court case seeking to stop the exercise.

In suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/25, PDP chairmen from Imo and Abia States, Austin Nwachukwu and Amah Abraham Nnanna, along with the South-South Zonal Secretary, Turnah Alabah George, accused the Damagum-led National Working Committee of breaching the party’s constitution and internal election guidelines, prompting judicial intervention.

The defendants listed in the suit include INEC, the PDP, Damagum, and several other senior members.

At Tuesday’s proceedings before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, the case was adjourned to October 16 following a disagreement over who had the authority to represent the PDP.

Two Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Kamaldeen Ajibade and Chief Chris Uche, both laid claim to the role of the party’s counsel. The judge directed them to present evidence of their authorisation before the substantive hearing.

The court subsequently fixed October 20 for the main hearing and ordered all parties to exchange court documents by October 17.

Meanwhile, a letter dated October 16 and signed by 14 members of the National Working Committee reaffirmed the decision to remove the National Legal Adviser, citing alleged compromise, and to appoint Uche (SAN) as his replacement, according to a report by PUNCH Online.

In his response, Ajibade maintained that he is still the party’s National Legal Adviser with the authority to represent the PDP, emphasising that only a national convention has the power to remove him from that position.

In his petition, Anyanwu denied the authorship of the letter sent to INEC, allegedly bearing his signature, and called on the IGP and DSS to conduct an investigation into the matter.

In his letter to the Acting Chairman of INEC titled “RE: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Year 2025 Elective National Convention: Petition Against Forgery and Cloning of My Signature,” Anyanwu stated that the referenced letter was neither signed, approved, nor issued by him.