*Says he signed letter to INEC, 3 others
*Urges DSS, Police IG to do thorough investigation
By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja
The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on monday, hit back at its National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, over his claim that his ‘signature cloning’ in the party’s letter to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC, pointing out that he (Anyanwu) lied in his claim.
The PDP leadership, at a press conference addressed by ten members of its National Working Committee (NWC) in Abuja, maintained, stoutly,
that Anyanwu signed the PDP’s letter to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, informing the commission of the venue, date and time of its forthcoming national convention as well as three others along with the national chairman of the party, Amb Umar Ilya Damagum.
The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Hon Debo Ologunagba, who spoke at the press conference, displayed several documents and letters signed by the National Secretary of the party, which he is now denying.
The party revealed that four separate letters were signed, on the same day inside the office of the national chairman in the presence of the party’s governors and officials, which included Anyanwu, the same letters now being publicly contested by him.
The leading opposition party also presented certified documents from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to support its position.
In dismissing the allegation of forgery levelled at the party by Anyanwu, Hon Ologunagba stated that he (Anyanwu) personally attended and endorsed the 101st National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting that approved the party’s forthcoming national elective convention in Ibadan the Oyo State capital.
The NEC, the party revealed, had mandated the National Chairman, Ambassador Iliya Damagun, and the National Secretary, Senator Anyanwu, to officially notify INEC of the convention’s date, venue, and agenda, in compliance with Section 82(1) of the Electoral Act 2022.
Describing the forgery allegation as politically motivated, Ologunagba maintained that both INEC records and photographic evidence confirmed Anyanwu’s active role in the decision-making process he now seeks to repudiate.
The records, according to the National Publicity Secretary, clearly showed that Anyanwu was present at the 101st NEC meeting held on July 24, 2025, where the decision to hold the national convention in November was unanimously approved, a position which he said contradicted his recent stance over documents being forged.
In the words of Ologunagba, “Interestingly, the narration is the fact that there have been alleged forgery report to the security agencies, namely the DSS, the police. Well, of course, we expect that it will be investigated. And we expect that they will do a proper investigation.
“Now, you recall that at the 101 NEC meeting of this party, which Senator Samuel Anyanwu was number four on that attendance register and INEC was fully represented.
“NEC approved the 2025 elective national convention schedule of activities and timetable. Under the approved timetable, the elective national convention to elect new set of national officers of our party that will hold on Saturday, 15th to 16th November, 2025 in Ibadan, Oyo state capital. “Consequently, NEC directed the national chairman, his excellency, Ambassador Ilya Damagum, and the national secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu to officially write to inform INEC. This was the meeting of 24th of July.
“NEC directed the national chairman and national secretary to officially write to inform the independent national electoral commission, INEC, of the time, the venue, and the agenda for the national elective convention. In accordance with the requirement of section 82.1 of the electoral act 2022, and part two, of the regulations and guidelines for political parties 2022.
“Accordingly, NEC also approved the membership composition of the national convention committee, which we call the National Convention Organizing Committee, as well as membership composition of the National Convention Zoning Committee, which was approved at the 101st meeting of 24th of July.
“Now, fast forward to the 102nd NEC meeting, which was on the 25th of August, 2025. The chairman and the national secretary, Senator Ayamu, wrote letters. That meeting of the 25th of August was preceded by a meeting of governors, NWC members, leaders of the party, in this building, in the office of the national chairman, where every member here from the NWC were present.
“Others at the meeting were Honorable Umaru Fintiri, the Governor of Adamawa State, His excellency Bala Abulkadir Muhammad, the Governor of Bauchi was there at the meeting before the NEC meeting, in the office of the chairman, where Senator Anyanwu was present. The legal adviser was present. The national organization secretary was present.
“And all the members seated at the table here, and those that cannot even make this meeting were there. The third person who was present at that meeting was His Excellency Ademola Jackson Adeleke, the governor of Osun State. His Excellency Seyi Makinde, the governor of Oyo State. His Excellency Dauda Lawan, the governor of Zamfara State. His Excellency Senator Bukola Saraki was present. His Excellency Kabiru Tamiru Taraki, SAN, was present. His Excellency Babangida Aliu was present. All National Working Committee, NWC members were present.
“At that meeting, four letters were signed, on the 25th of August, before this gentleman and members that are seated here, four letters were written and signed in their presence in the office of the national chairman and these are the letters, I will identify them.
“The letter to INEC, signed by Senator Anyanwu and the chairman. The 101 NEC meeting directed them to issue a letter of notice, conveying time, date, venue, and agenda of the national convention at Ibadan. This letter was written which is the elective convention, the date, and of course the venue, which was signed by him.
“Another letter that was signed that day, by him, with the chairman, was the composition of the elective national convention membership, which was signed by him and the chairman. That’s the second letter that was signed.
“The third letter that was signed at that same meeting, at the same time, before the same gentlemen. Notice of repeat Southeast 2025 Zonal Congresses of People’s Democratic Party. That letter was signed by him and the chairman. “And the last letter was notice of repeat congresses in Anambra and Ebonyi State, in accordance with section 82(1) of the electoral act. So these four letters were signed at the same time, at the same venue, before these gentleman.
“These are the documents. And that’s why I said to you, you can have alternative propaganda, but you don’t have alternative facts. And so these are the facts as they are today.
“Curiously, today is 20th of October, right? Nine or 10 days shy of 60 days. And you suddenly woke up and say, oh, that was forged. When this acknowledgement came, the party received the acknowledgement.
“The NWC is aware of this acknowledgement. So at what point does that become a forged document? 50 odd days after the letter was signed. I mean, you can understand this. This is why we said some of these needs to be interrogated.
“But what is important under criminal law is that there are personal consequences for people when they deliberately misinform security agencies to go on a wide goose chase by spurious and sometimes, if I will say that, irresponsible reporting that are not correct. But again, we leave that within them to investigate and we welcome the investigation.
“So, he who alleges must prove. But you look at the jigsaw, look at the puzzle, four letters were signed at the same time. And then, more than almost two months ago, and one of them suddenly became forged?
“Beyond this, there is a calculated attempt to derail the party and ensure that the convention is not in place. But again, this is a falling flat on the face because it’s untrue. At best, it’s a lie.
“And three, it’s criminal to make false allegations before security officials and security agencies. I would think they should take it up and our party would be interested in having to get to the end of this matter because forgery is a very serious allegation and if anybody who is involved in it or who is behind stories that are not true with regards to that, they should have their day with the security agencies”, he said.
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