PDP National Conference 2025: Expelled Secretary Samuel Anyanwu Labels It an Unlawful Jamboree

In the dynamic landscape of Nigerian politics, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) recently held its national conference in 2025, sparking controversy. Expelled National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu denounced the event as an “unlawful jamboree,” highlighting procedural flaws. This article breaks down the PDP national conference 2025, Anyanwu’s PDP expulsion, and the broader PDP internal crisis, providing clear insights for voters, political analysts, and party stakeholders.

Introduction

The PDP national conference 2025, held over the weekend of November 15-16, 2025, marked a pivotal moment for Nigeria’s main opposition party. Attendees elected Kabiru Turaki, a former Minister of Special Duties, as the new National Chairman. However, the event quickly drew sharp criticism from Samuel Anyanwu, the party’s recently expelled National Secretary. In a televised interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Anyanwu described the PDP conference as an “unlawful jamboree,” citing incomplete state congresses and lack of inclusivity.

Background on PDP Conventions

PDP national conferences, governed by the party’s constitution and Nigeria’s Electoral Act, require preliminary ward, local government, and state congresses to ensure delegate legitimacy. These grassroots processes feed into the national convention, where leaders are elected. The 2025 event also involved high-profile expulsions, including Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike and former Ekiti Governor Ayodele Fayose, amplifying the PDP internal crisis.

Analysis

Samuel Anyanwu’s critique of the PDP national conference 2025 centers on procedural irregularities. He pointed out that 16 states had not conducted their congresses, and the entire South-East geopolitical zone—comprising Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo states—remained unrepresented. Furthermore, Anyanwu noted that even completed congresses had not been officially communicated to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the body responsible for accrediting party delegates.

Key Statements from Anyanwu

During the interview, monitored by Daily Post, Anyanwu stated: “16 states had not even done their congresses; the entire South-East has not done their congress.” He emphasized that the conference, spanning Saturday to early Sunday, lacked the all-inclusive nature required for legitimacy. Anyanwu mocked claims of rule adherence at the event, saying, “When I heard somebody yesterday at the convention… saying that we must obey the rules of the party, I laughed.”

Context of PDP Leadership Transition

The convention followed the dissolution of party structures in five states: Imo, Abia, Enugu, Akwa Ibom, and Rivers. This move addressed ongoing PDP internal conflicts, particularly in Rivers State amid tensions involving Nyesom Wike. Turaki’s emergence as chairman signals a push for unity, but Anyanwu’s comments underscore divisions within the party.

Summary

The PDP national conference 2025 expelled 11 key members, including Samuel Anyanwu, Nyesom Wike, Ayodele Fayose, and others, for alleged anti-party activities. PDP chieftain Bode George proposed the expulsions, seconded by the Bauchi State chairman and ratified unanimously under Bauchi Governor Bala Mohammed’s guidance. Despite electing new leadership, the event faced backlash from Anyanwu, who labeled it a non-compliant “jamboree” due to missing state congresses and INEC notifications.

Key Points

Practical Advice

For PDP members, supporters, and aspiring politicians navigating similar party dynamics, consider these steps to ensure compliance during conventions:

Verify Grassroots Congresses

Always confirm that ward, LGA, and state congresses precede national events. Use INEC’s portal to check accreditation status, preventing challenges like those raised by Samuel Anyanwu PDP.

Engage in Internal Dispute Resolution

Address anti-party allegations through the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) or disciplinary committee before escalations lead to expulsion. Document all actions to counter claims in PDP internal crises.

Monitor INEC Compliance

Parties must notify INEC of congress outcomes within specified timelines under the Electoral Act 2022. This builds legitimacy for PDP national conference outcomes.

Points of Caution

Political jamborees, as termed by Anyanwu, risk eroding party credibility. Caution against:

• Rushing conventions without full delegate representation, inviting legal contests.
• Expulsions without due process, which could fracture voter bases in PDP strongholds like the South-South and North-East.
• Ignoring zonal balances, as South-East exclusion may fuel regional tensions in Nigerian politics.

Voters should watch for INEC interventions, which could nullify PDP leadership changes if procedural lapses are proven.

Comparison

Compared to prior PDP conventions, the 2025 event mirrors past internal PDP crises but stands out in scale.

Vs. 2015 PDP Convention

The 2015 convention faced similar state congress disputes but proceeded after NEC waivers. Unlike 2025, it produced unchallenged leadership under Uche Secondus, without immediate high-profile expulsions like Nyesom Wike.

Vs. 2022 PDP Crisis

In 2022, PDP expelled Wike allies amid presidential primaries, echoing 2025’s actions. However, 2025’s “jamboree” label by Anyanwu highlights deeper procedural voids, absent in 2022’s INEC-monitored processes.

Broader Nigerian Party Trends

APC conventions have faced analogous criticisms, such as 2022’s delegate shortages, showing PDP national conference 2025 issues are not isolated but underscore the need for stricter Electoral Act adherence across parties.

Legal Implications

Under PDP’s constitution (as amended in 2017), national conventions require certified state congresses with INEC notification per Section 87 of the Electoral Act 2022. Anyanwu’s claims—that 16 states and the South-East lacked congresses—raise validity questions.

Potential INEC Role

INEC can withhold recognition of PDP’s new executives if congresses were uncommunicated. Affected parties, like Anyanwu, may seek court injunctions, as in past cases like PDP v. INEC (2017), where incomplete processes nullified outcomes.

Expulsion Legality

Expulsions must follow PDP’s disciplinary guidelines (Article 57-59). Unanimous ratification suggests compliance, but aggrieved members can appeal to the Appeal Court or NEC, potentially delaying PDP internal resolutions.

Conclusion

The PDP national conference 2025, while advancing leadership renewal with Kabiru Turaki’s chairmanship, is mired in controversy from Samuel Anyanwu’s “unlawful jamboree” verdict. Expulsions of figures like Nyesom Wike address anti-party actions but expose PDP internal crisis fault lines. For Nigerian democracy, this underscores the importance of procedural integrity. Stakeholders must prioritize INEC compliance to restore unity ahead of future elections, ensuring PDP remains a viable opposition force.

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