The crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has reached a boiling point as conflicting factions prepare for a showdown over the position of National Secretary and the 100th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, both scheduled for today in Abuja.

Sources confirmed that opposing camps within the party are mobilizing for separate NEC and National Caucus meetings, exposing deepening divisions among party leadership.

The Board of Trustees is also expected to convene amidst the turbulence.

On Sunday, at the Wadata Plaza, acting National Chairman Umar Damagum, National Secretary Senator Samuel Anyanwu, National Organising Secretary Umar Bature, and other NWC members insisted on holding an expanded National Caucus instead of the NEC.

Later that evening, another NWC group, including Deputy National Chairman (South) Taofeek Arapaja and acting Secretary Setonji Koshoedo, reaffirmed that the NEC would proceed as originally scheduled, with Koshoedo retaining his acting role.

The faction loyal to Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde — which includes Governors Peter Mbah (Enugu), Douye Diri (Bayelsa), Ademola Adeleke (Osun), Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), and several NWC members — maintains that the NEC must hold as planned, opposing Anyanwu’s return as National Secretary.

Conversely, former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike’s camp, with support from Governors Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau), Adamu Fintiri (Adamawa), and others, is backing Anyanwu’s reinstatement and advocating for the NEC's postponement.

The PDP’s internal struggle, ongoing since its 2015 electoral loss, has been marked by leadership battles and unresolved party congress issues across key states.

While Koshoedo was appointed acting secretary to stabilise the party, a committee led by Governor Kefas Agbu of Taraba later revealed that INEC still recognised Anyanwu as the substantive National Secretary.

The 99th NEC had earlier agreed to hold its 100th session on June 30. However, INEC rejected the notification on procedural grounds, saying the letter lacked co-signatures from both the National Chairman and Secretary as required.

Despite this, PDP spokesperson Debo Ologunagba argued that INEC cannot meddle in internal affairs — a stance Damagum distanced the party from, calling the statement unilateral and ill-timed.

Damagum, alongside top PDP figures like Governor Mohammed and former Senate President Bukola Saraki, announced last week that the NEC meeting had been postponed and would be replaced by an expanded National Caucus meeting today.

Six deputy national officers, including Timothy Osadolor and Ibrahim Abdullahi, hailed Anyanwu’s return in a joint statement, backing the new caucus meeting date.

Still, 11 out of 18 NWC members opposed the move, rejecting Anyanwu’s reinstatement and insisting the 100th NEC must hold today. They stated the meeting was valid per the NEC’s May 27 resolution and that any attempt to alter it would be unconstitutional.

A top source in the Makinde camp emphasized that preparations for the meeting were already complete, including accreditation logistics.

Deputy National Chairman Arapaja, during a Sunday press briefing, reaffirmed that the NEC meeting would proceed as planned, also confirming the party’s National Convention for August 28–30.

He warned against recognising any ‘Expanded National Caucus’ meeting, citing constitutional limitations that define the composition and function of the party’s National Caucus without provisions for expansion.

Meanwhile, Wike’s faction insists that today’s gathering is a special National Caucus session — not NEC — claiming it offers broader participation and a path toward resolving the crisis.

Anyanwu also issued an invitation on Sunday restricting attendance to selected party stakeholders, including caucus members, BoT members, state chairmen, and former governors.

Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu expressed his frustration with the party’s internal drama but voiced full support for the NEC meeting, warning that the South East might reconsider its affiliation with PDP if its stance on the National Secretary is ignored.

Mbah’s position echoed the communique from the South East Zonal Executive Committee, which declared its demands non-negotiable.

Also speaking, PDP elder statesman Olabode George said he would attend the meeting regardless of the label. “Call it NEC or whatever, what matters is that we all meet, face each other, and speak the truth,” he said.

Former PDP spokesperson Kola Ologbondiyan also insisted that today’s gathering must be recognised as the 100th NEC, as scheduled by the party’s highest decision-making organ.

Senator Ibrahim Tsauri, former National Secretary, reinforced this, stating the NEC's resolution on the meeting date cannot be overridden by a minority of dissenters.

Tsauri, however, acknowledged the party’s efforts to defuse the crisis by opening discussions through a broader stakeholders’ platform.

Also, former Vice Chairman (South West) Eddy Olafeso downplayed factional differences, stressing the importance of unity and internal resolution: “We will meet and resolve things. That’s what matters.”

Meanwhile, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) mocked the PDP’s internal crisis, describing the opposition party as “dying.”

APC spokesperson Bala Ibrahim said, “We are glad to see PDP in disarray. This is a party that cannot manage itself. Giving it another shot at leading the country would be suicidal. PDP is crumbling.”