The internal turmoil within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has escalated following allegations by National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu, who reported to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Inspector General of Police that his signature was forged in official correspondence.
In petitions dated October 15 and submitted on October 16, Anyanwu denied authorizing an August 29 letter sent to INEC regarding the party’s planned National Convention scheduled for November 15–16 in Ibadan, Oyo State. He emphasized that the document in question was neither signed nor authorized by him, labeling it a forgery.
In his letter titled “RE: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Year 2025 Elective National Convention: Petition Against Forgery and Cloning of My Signature,” Anyanwu insisted that the correspondence bearing his signature was fraudulent. He urged the DSS and the police to immediately investigate what he described as a case of forgery capable of undermining the party’s integrity ahead of its convention.
The controversy emerged amid a pending lawsuit filed by aggrieved party chieftains seeking to halt the elective national convention. In suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/25, PDP chairmen from Imo and Abia states, Austin Nwachukwu and Amah Abraham Nnanna, alongside the South-South Zonal Secretary, Turnah Alabah George, accused the Umar Damagum-led National Working Committee of breaching the party’s constitution and internal election rules.
Defendants in the case include INEC, the PDP, Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum, and other senior officials. At Tuesday’s sitting, the court adjourned proceedings to October 20 after a dispute erupted over who was authorized to represent the PDP in court. Both Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN) and Chris Uche (SAN) claimed the mandate, prompting Justice James Omotosho to order them to present proof of authorization.
Meanwhile, a letter dated October 16, signed by 14 National Working Committee (NWC) members, reaffirmed the removal of the PDP’s National Legal Adviser, Ajibade, over alleged compromise, and the appointment of Uche (SAN) in his stead. Ajibade, however, rejected the decision, maintaining that only a national convention could remove him from office and insisting he remains the party’s legitimate legal adviser.
The wrangling within the PDP has been worsened by dissatisfaction among allies of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, over disputes concerning South-South leadership, party structures in Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Plateau, and the micro-zoning arrangement for the convention.
In his petition, Anyanwu described the alleged forgery of his signature as a criminal act capable of destabilizing the party further. He urged INEC, DSS, and the police to “take urgent steps to uncover those behind the fraudulent document” and restore confidence in the PDP’s convention process.
The letter read in part, “My attention has been drawn to the above-titled official letter to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) with Ref. No. PDP/DOM/GF.2/Vol. 1M/25-140 dated Monday, August 25, 2025, purportedly signed by me. Regrettably, the quoted letter was never signed, authorized, or known to me. It is shocking to have a forged/cloned version of my signature on the letter. I therefore request that this criminal conduct by officers of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and their collaborators within INEC be investigated and the culprits prosecuted. Attached herewith is an excerpt of the forged document for ease of reference.”
In a separate letter to the DSS Director General, titled “Petition Against Forgery and Cloning of My Signature,” Anyanwu urged an investigation and prosecution of PDP officials and INEC collaborators involved in the alleged crime. It read in part, “My attention has been drawn to the above-titled official letter to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) with Ref. No. PDP/DOM/GF.2/Vol. 1M/25-140 dated Monday, August 25, 2025, purportedly signed by me. Regrettably, the quoted letter was never signed, authorized or known to me. It is shocking to have a forged/cloned version of my signature on the letter. I therefore request that this criminal conduct by officers of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and their collaborators within INEC be investigated and the culprits prosecuted.”
In a related letter to the Inspector General of Police, Anyanwu called for a thorough investigation and prosecution of those responsible. The letter read in part, “My attention has been drawn to the above-titled official letter to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) with Ref. No. PDP/DOM/GF.2/Vol. 1M/25-140 dated Monday, August 25, 2025, purportedly signed by me. Regrettably, the quoted letter was never signed, authorized or known to me. It is shocking to have a forged/cloned version of my signature on the letter. I therefore request that this criminal conduct by officers of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and their collaborators within INEC be investigated and the culprits prosecuted. Attached herewith is an excerpt of the forged document for ease of reference.”
Leave a Reply