PDP National Working Committee Rejects Amb. Taofeek Arapaja,Confirms Sen. Samuel N. Anyanwu as Legitimate National Secretary

In a decisive public statement issued yesterday, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) unequivocally disowned Amb. Taofeek Arapaja’s recent claims to the position of National Secretary. The party reaffirmed Senator Samuel N. Anyanwu as the legitimate National Secretary, condemning Arapaja’s actions as unauthorized and detrimental to the party’s integrity.

The controversy escalated following a letter dated November 19, 2025, allegedly authored by Amb. Arapaja and presented to the Honourable Chief Judge of the Federal High Court. In this letter, Arapaja purported to hold the office of National Secretary and made disparaging remarks against some Federal High Court judges. The PDP’s National Working Committee described the letter as “regrettable and disdainful,” stressing that it was written without any mandate or authority from the party.

The official PDP letter stated, “Amb. Taofeek Arapaja is neither the National Secretary nor the National Legal Adviser of the Peoples Democratic Party. As such, he lacks any legitimate authority to issue correspondence or represent the party in any official capacity.” The party further instructed all stakeholders—including government agencies, INEC, and judicial authorities—to entirely disregard any communications attributed to Arapaja.

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Senator Samuel N. Anyanwu personally issued a disclaimer warning the public and institutions to ignore correspondence not signed or authorized by him. He called on interested parties to verify the legitimate PDP leadership through the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) portal, reaffirming transparency and adherence to institutional norms.

The PDP emphasized the primacy of its internal constitutional provisions, the Nigerian Electoral Act, and the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s constitution in governing party affairs. It reiterated its respect for judicial independence and condemned any attempts to undermine or coerce the judiciary, emphasizing that such actions are unacceptable and contrary to the party’s values.

This public recommitment to structure and order comes amid ongoing internal disputes within the PDP, with party factions having consistently supported Senator Anyanwu’s tenure following his reinstatement by the National Executive Committee (NEC) earlier this year. The party insists on unity as it prepares to strengthen its role as a credible opposition force committed to reclaiming governance for Nigerians.