An apparently defiant response by the Publicity Secretary to some correspondence from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been disowned by the leadership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of its scheduled June 30 National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting.
PDP’s Acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum, says their National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, had no authority to address the issue in a recent statement the Spokesman made on the matter.
INEC had written to the party that the scheduled meeting was illegal because the PDP notice on the meeting bore only one signatory.
To this, Ologunagba on Sunday addressed journalists, insisting that the PDP did not need the approval of INEC to hold what would be the party’s 100th NEC meeting.
He said the NEC meeting of the PDP will be held as scheduled with or without the approval of INEC, saying that the letter of notice was just a courtesy extended to the electoral body.
Before then, the INEC had written to the party asking its leaders to be guided over the notice of the NEC meeting that was signed by only Damagum.
The commission insisted that the letter was supposed to be signed by Damagum and the party’s National Secretary.
Reacting to the development, Damagum, in a statement on Monday which he personally signed, stated that the comment by Ologunagba was made without the approval of the party’s NWC.
He declared Ologunagba’s comments during Sunday’s Press Conference at the party’s headquarters as premature and without due consultation, “especially in light of the fact that a meeting has already been scheduled for Tuesday, 24th June 2025 between the party leaders, stakeholders, the Ag. National Chairman of PDP and the Chairman of INEC to address the concerns raised in the letter sent by the commission to the opposition party (PDP).”
Damagum expressed shock that the party’s spokesman unilaterally went public on such a sensitive matter without recourse to established internal processes or the leadership of the party.
The PDP Chairman declared Ologunagba’s comments as entirely his personal opinions which did not represent the official position of the PDP.
Damagum’s statement partly read, “Let me clearly and unequivocally state that the comment by Hon. Debo Ologunagba was made without the authority or approval of the National Working Committee (NWC) of our great Party.
“The comments was made prematurely and without due consultation, especially in light of the fact that a meeting has already been scheduled for Tuesday, 24th June 2025 between the party leaders, stakeholder, the Acting National Chairman of PDP and the Chairman of INEC to address the concerns raised in the letter sent to our Party.
“It is shocking and unfortunate that such a sensitive matter was addressed publicly without recourse to establish internal processes or the leadership of the Party. In my capacity as the Ag. National Chairman.
“I wish to make it categorically clear that the views expressed by Hon. Ologunagba in that press interactions are entirely his personal opinions and do not represent the official position of the PDP.
“Regrettably, this is not the first time that Hon. Ologunagba has acted unilaterally, disregarding the collective decision-making structures of the Party.
“While the Party remains committed to defending its internal autonomy and resisting undue interference from external forces, it must do so in a responsible and unified manner.”
The party’s National Chairman said the PDP remained committed to conducting its 100th NEC meeting in accordance with constitutional provisions and democratic norms.
“However, we will do so with collective consensus and proper coordination, not through the lens of personal posturing,” Damagum said.
