POLITICS
PDP Staff Desert Offices as Anyanwu Invades Secretariat
…Party Says INEC Can’t Stop NEC Meeting
By Mike Odiakose, Abuja
Staff of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national Secretariat on Monday locked up and deserted their offices in protest over attempt by the former National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, to forcefully take over his former office.
Daily Asset gathered that the embattled former National Secretary had stormed the PDP Secretariat with muscled-men suspected to be hired thugs and attempted to break into his former office.
When the workers got wind of what was happening they quickly locked up and deserted their office in protest against the former Scribe.
The protest culminated in a mass walkout, leaving the secretariat virtually empty and deserted as Samuel Anyanwu drove into the Secretariat building on Monday morning.
The protest was sparked by Anyanwu’s continued claim to the National Secretary position despite a Supreme Court ruling in March 2025, which declared leadership disputes an internal party matter and the resolution of the 600th National Working Committee (NWC) meeting of the Party directing the Deputy National Secretary, Arch Hon Koshoedo Setonji to act as National Secretary.
Meanwhile, there are strong indications that the party has petitioned security agencies over alleged plot by a staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to abort the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party.
The PDP 100th National Executive Committee meeting is scheduled to hold on June 30, 2025, at the Party’s National Headquarters, Wadata Plaza, Abuja,
The PDP strongly condemned the actions of INEC’s Acting Secretary, Haliru Aminu, who about two weeks ago wrote a letter declaring the PDP next NEC meeting illegal, an act the PDP describes as a deliberate overreach and a breach of constitutional boundaries.
The Party’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, while addressing journalists earlier today in Abuja, emphasized that INEC lacks the constitutional authority to regulate internal party meetings such as the NEC sessions, except where such meetings involve merged and the election of party officers or candidates.
Ologunagba stated, “The PDP duly notified INEC of our 100th NEC meeting as a matter of courtesy, in line with established practice. However, Haliru Aminu’s response, which falsely suggested our meeting was for purposes requiring INEC’s oversight, raises serious questions about his motives and impartiality. We demand that INEC investigate his actions and ensure such interference ceases immediately.”
He emphasised that the 100th NEC meeting will focus on critical party matters, including reviewing progress on preparations for the forthcoming national convention, updates from the Zoning and Convention Committees, and addressing other unresolved issues in the Party.
The PDP dismissef social media reports claiming INEC canceled the meeting as false and baseless, asserting that INEC has no authority to dictate the Party’s internal processes.
The PDP further accuses elements within INEC, allegedly influenced by the All Progressives Congress (APC), of attempting to undermine the opposition and tilt Nigeria toward a one-party state.
The Party called on INEC to uphold its constitutional mandate as an impartial arbiter and resist being co-opted into any authoritarian agenda.
The Conference of Professionals in the PDP (CP-PDP) had earlier thrown its weight behind the scheduled NEC meeting, describing INEC’s purported rejection of the Party’s notice as a “mischievous misrepresentation” of electoral guidelines.
The CP-PDP demanded that INEC relieve Haliru Aminu of his duties pending an investigation into allegations of compromise.
The PDP assured its members, supporters, and the Nigerian public that the 100th NEC meeting will proceed as planned, undeterred by external pressures.
The Party said it remains resolute in its mission to strengthen its internal processes and provide a robust platform for the Nigerian people to reclaim their voices in the democratic process.
From Ayinde Akintade, Osogbo
The Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke, yesterday charged newly inaugurated members of the Osun Central Senatorial District Accord Campaign Committee for Aare Ganiyu Olaoluwa Asejere to deploy their experience and political networks for effective grassroots mobilization, wider public engagement, and strong support for Aare Asejere.
Governor Adeleke gave this charge while speaking at the official Inauguration of the Osun Central Senatorial District Accord Campaign Committee for Aare Ganiyu Olaoluwa Asejere, at Adebimpe event hall, adjacent Osogbo City Stadium, along Ikirun Road,Osogbo.
The Governor who was represented by his deputy, Prince Kola Adewusi said, the campaign council committees should intensify grassroots mobilization from now till Election Day.
Governor Adeleke admonished entire people of Osun Central Senatorial district to see themselves as one and remain under the umbrella of the Accord while they should continue to demonstrate their unalloyed love and support for Aare Asejere for him to emerge as the next Senator for the area in January 2027.
“I am appealing to you all my dear people to extend the same love you gave me in the just concluded Governorship election in Osun State to Alhaji Asejere in the forthcoming election as he must be in the Red Chamber by January 2027 by the power of the Almighty God” Governor Adeleke stressed.=
Yeye Dupe Adeleke Sanni, the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adewale Egbedun and a current Commissioner in Osun, Hon Bunmi Jenyo, while inaugurating the committee, charged them to be up and doing and work towards the victory of Aare Asejere in the coming election.
“The committee should make sure our Accord candidate for Osun Central Senatorial district wins the Senatorial election to the Senate as Aare Asejere’s Senatorial ambition is a round peg in a round hole towards the development and betterment of the people”.
The Chairman of the Campaign Committee and Secretary to the Osun State Government, Alhaji Teslim Igbalaye as well as the Director-General of the Asejere Campaign Committee and the incumbent Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment Oluomo Kolapo Alimi, while speaking congratulated Aare Asejere in advance saying, nothing will stop his emergence as Senator representing Osun Central Senatorial district in the coming election by God’s Grace and people’s support.
Also the Osun Accord Chairman, Pastor Victor Akande enjoyed the newly inaugurated committee for the emergence of Aare Asejere to see the assignment as a task which they should not take with levity.
“Our man, Aare Asejere has been tested, he has never been found wanting, he’s a man of his word and he is a complete grassroots politician who loves to develop people, let us join hands together and support his ambition”, Pastor Akande said.
Responding, Aare Asejere who was highly elated for seeing large numbers of people from far and near promised not to let the people of Osun Central Senatorial district down, adding that he will ensure he involves the whole people in his performance while his representation will be meaningful.
Aare Asejere once again called on the people of Osun Central to vote him in as the Senator representing the district assured that he will not fail them.
He appreciated Governor Ademola Adeleke in absentia, his deputy, the SSG, Bobagunwa Igbalaiye, Oluomo Alimi, Yeye Dupe-Sanni, the Speaker of the State Assembly, Hon Egbedun, Hon Abesin, Hon
Funso Ishola, party leaders, members of the Accord, community leaders, Iyaloja-General and her team, Oluomo Rasaki, Hon Adigun Olaide, among others.
By Ubong Ukpong, Abuja
The House of Representatives on Thursday unanimously called for urgent and coordinated actions to protect Nigerian girls from child marriage and other harmful practices.
The call followed a motion of urgent national importance moved by the member representing Kosofe Federal Constituency, Lagos State, Rep.
Kafilat Ogbara, in commemoration of the International Day of the Girl Child, marked every October 11th.Ogbara, while moving the motion, decried the prevalence of child marriage and other harmful practices against the girl child.
She called on government at all levels to strengthen national programmes aimed at preventing child marriage and protecting girls at risk.
The Speaker, Rep. Abbas Tajudeen, in adopting the motion, also urged governments at all levels to ensure that every girl child has access to education, and quality healthcare.
The theme for the 2026 commemoration siught to reaffirm commitment to ending child marriage and upholding the fundamental rights of every girl child.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has restated its commitment to an inclusive electoral process.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Oyo State, Prof. Adeniran Tella, stated this on Wednesday in Ibadan at a training programme for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) ahead of the 2027 general election.
Tella noted that persons with one form of disability or another constitute an important segment of the society.
He said such individuals are citizens with equal rights, responsibilities, aspirations and contributions to make towards the development of the country.
He said: “The commission recognises that electoral inclusion goes beyond permitting PWDs to register and vote.
“It also involves ensuring that they have access to reliable electoral information, understand electoral procedures, can access polling units and are able to participate in other aspects of the electoral process.”
Tella said the commission would provide relevant assistive devices such as magnifying glasses, Braille guides and posters for voters with hearing impairments at polling units to give Persons with Disabilities a more pleasant voting experience on election days.
He added that INEC guidelines and regulations provide that priority should be accorded to PWDs at polling units without them having to wait in long queues during voting.
He further said that eligible PWDs would be engaged and trained as ad-hoc staff during the elections.
The REC explained that the objective of the commission was to ensure that eligible PWDs in the state were not discouraged, excluded or prevented by avoidable barriers from exercising their franchise during the elections.
He further asserted that “democracy is stronger when every eligible citizen has a fair opportunity to participate in shaping its future.”
He urged PWDs across the state to cooperate with the commission to remove avoidable barriers, promote electoral awareness and encourage peaceful participation.
The state Chairman of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), Oluwaranti Abiodun, commended INEC for giving special consideration to PWDs ahead of the forthcoming general election.
Abiodun urged the electoral body to give priority to the plights of Persons with Disabilities when planning its activities towards the conduct of the elections.
He demanded that more consideration should be given to eligible PWDs who are interested in working as ad-hoc staff.
He also called on members of the association to support INEC and be ready to perform their civic responsibilities during the 2027 elections. (NAN)
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