The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has taken a dramatic turn as the party’s National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, has lodged formal petitions with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
In his petition, Anyanwu accused some party officials of forging and cloning his signature on a document notifying INEC of the PDP’s forthcoming national convention—an action allegedly carried out by the faction loyal to the Acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum.
The latest development has deepened existing cracks within Nigeria’s main opposition party ahead of its national convention scheduled for November 2025. According to reports, the contentious convention notice was submitted to INEC on August 29, 2025, and appeared to bear Anyanwu’s signature.
However, the National Secretary has since disowned the document, insisting that he neither signed nor authorized it. In a petition dated October 15, 2025, and addressed to the heads of INEC, DSS, and the Nigeria Police Force, Anyanwu described the document as a “criminal forgery” and called for a thorough investigation.
Part of the petition, obtained by SaharaReporters on Sunday, October 19, reads:
“My attention has been drawn to the above-titled official letter to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) with Ref. No. PDP/DOM/GF.2/Vol.1M/25–140 dated Monday, August 25, 2025, purportedly signed by me.
Regrettably, the quoted letter was never signed, authorized, or known to me. It is shocking to have a forged or cloned version of my signature on the letter.
I therefore request that this criminal conduct by officers of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and their collaborators within INEC be investigated and the culprits prosecuted.”
The petition has reportedly caused unrest within the PDP’s National Working Committee (NWC), with some members accusing Acting Chairman Damagum of attempting to consolidate his grip on the party ahead of the convention.
Despite the mounting controversy, the Damagum-led faction is said to be pressing ahead with arrangements for the November 16 convention. Several NWC members, however, have opposed the move, citing unresolved state congresses and warning that holding the convention under such circumstances could trigger new legal battles.
The crisis has also attracted judicial intervention. On Thursday, October 17, Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja reaffirmed an earlier directive ordering all parties to maintain the status quo regarding the proposed convention.
The ruling stemmed from a lawsuit filed by three disgruntled PDP members, including the suspended Imo and Abia State chairmen, who argued that the party had failed to hold valid congresses to elect delegates, rendering the planned convention unconstitutional.
Justice Omotosho assured the parties that a final judgment would be delivered before the end of October but emphasized that the restraining order remains in effect. The court fixed Monday, October 20, for the definitive hearing of the originating summons effectively suspending all convention-related activities until the legality of the process is resolved.
