The ongoing internal crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) escalated further on Sunday as an aide to the National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, accused the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, of deliberately misrepresenting the role of the Secretary in a bid to mislead the public and sow division within the party.
The statement comes in response to remarks reportedly made by Ologunagba, suggesting that the National Secretary’s role was limited to administrative tasks such as managing diesel supplies and assigning parking spaces at the party secretariat.
Describing the comments as “mischievous and misleading,” Anyanwu’s aide criticized Ologunagba for showing a “clear lack of understanding” of the PDP Constitution, particularly Section 36(1) of the 2017 Constitution (as amended), which outlines the critical responsibilities of the National Secretary.
According to the PDP Constitution, the National Secretary serves as the Chief Administrative and Accounting Officer of the party, responsible for supervising daily operations, managing party correspondences, issuing notices for key meetings including the National Convention and National Executive Committee and keeping official records.
Further constitutional duties include rendering an annual written report to party organs and ensuring the implementation of decisions made by key party bodies such as the National Working Committee and National Caucus.
“The National Secretary is the engine room of the PDP,” the aide stressed, underscoring the strategic and constitutional importance of Senator Anyanwu’s office in the party’s hierarchy.
The clash between the two national officers signals deeper tensions within the PDP, as internal power struggles and conflicting interests continue to rock the party’s national leadership ahead of future electoral battles.