Dare Babalola
The Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has dismissed as baseless and misleading, allegations by the party’s National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, that his signature was forged on a letter submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) regarding the party’s 2025 National Convention.
In a statement signed by BoT Chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara on Thursday, the party said Anyanwu’s claim was inconsistent with documented records, adding that the letter in question was jointly signed by Anyanwu and National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum, on August 25, 2025, during the 102nd meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC).
Wabara noted that PDP’s BoT would have preferred to refrain from engaging in matters of internal administrative procedure in the public domain, but stressed that the gravity of Anyanwu’s allegation and its capacity to mislead party members and the general public necessitated a clear and factual clarification.
“It is on record that the said INEC notification letter was jointly signed by the National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum and Senator Samuel Anyanwu, the National Secretary, on the 25th of August, 2025, during the 102nd meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the PDP.
“The signing took place in the presence of critical organs and stakeholders of the Party, including members of the PDP Governors’ Forum, the Board of Trustees, and other NEC members who witnessed the process.
“Subsequent to this, Senator Anyanwu was formally inaugurated as the Secretary of the Contact and Mobilization Sub-Committee for the 2025 National Convention. In that capacity, he co-signed official communications of the sub-committee, including letters of appointment issued to its members, alongside the Sub-Committee Chairman, His Excellency Senator Douye Diri, Governor of Bayelsa State.
“Furthermore, Senator Anyanwu, in his capacity as Sub-Committee Secretary, personally signed and transmitted a letter seeking financial approval for the inaugural meeting of the sub-committee. These verifiable correspondences, bearing his signature, are in the custody of the Party and relevant Convention Committees,” Wabara stated.
The BoT described Anyanwu’s allegation as a deliberate attempt to tarnish the party’s image and misinform security agencies and the public, urging party members and supporters to disregard the claim and remain focused on the forthcoming national convention scheduled for November 15-16, 2025, in Ibadan, Oyo State.
He said, “In view of these incontrovertible facts, the BoT finds Senator Anyanwu’s claim of forgery to be baseless, misleading, and to say the least, reprehensible being inconsistent with the documented record of events. Such allegations, regrettably, can only be interpreted as a deliberate attempt to cast aspersions on the integrity of the Party’s leadership and processes, and to misinform security agencies and the general public.”
Furthermore, the BoT chairman of PDP reiterated the party’s unwavering commitment to democratic values, transparency, and internal harmony.
He concluded, “The forthcoming PDP 2025 Elective National Convention scheduled to hold on Saturday 15th to Sunday 16th November, 2025 in Ibadan, the Oyo State Capital shall by every measure, be a credible and unifying exercise reflective of the PDP’s long-standing tradition of internal democracy.
“The BoT therefore calls on all members, stakeholders, and supporters of the Party to disregard the unfounded claims by Senator Anyanwu and remain steadfast in their support for the leadership of our great Party as it continues to chart a course for Nigeria’s democratic renewal on the platform of the PDP.”
