The Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has dismissed allegations made by the party’s National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, accusing the party leadership of forging his signature on official documents sent to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
In a statement released on Thursday in Abuja, the BoT Chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara, described Anyanwu’s allegation of forgery and signature cloning as “false, baseless, and misleading.”
According to Wabara, the BoT had initially chosen not to comment on the matter publicly, but the seriousness of the accusation and its potential to confuse party members and the general public made clarification necessary.
“It is on record that the said INEC notification letter was jointly signed by the National Chairman, Umar Damagum, and Senator Anyanwu on August 25, during the 102nd meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the PDP,” Wabara stated.
He explained that the signing of the correspondence took place in the presence of critical organs and senior stakeholders of the party, including members of the PDP Governors’ Forum, the Board of Trustees, and other NEC members, all of whom witnessed the process.
Senator Anyanwu had earlier alleged that his signature was forged or cloned on a letter sent to INEC notifying the commission about the PDP’s forthcoming national elective convention. He claimed he neither signed nor authorized the correspondence, suggesting that party officials tampered with official documents.
The accusation, which surfaced earlier in the week, sparked fresh controversy within the party, already grappling with internal leadership disagreements ahead of the 2025 convention.
In response, Wabara said the record of the NEC meeting clearly shows that Anyanwu not only signed the INEC correspondence but also participated actively in the discussions leading to its approval.
He added that after the NEC meeting, Anyanwu was formally inaugurated as the Secretary of the Contact and Mobilization Sub-Committee for the upcoming convention, a position in which he continued to co-sign official communications.
“In that capacity, he co-signed several official letters of appointment issued to sub-committee members, alongside the Sub-Committee Chairman, Senator Douye Diri, Governor of Bayelsa State,” Wabara explained.
He noted that the consistency of Anyanwu’s involvement in convention-related activities makes the claim of forgery illogical.
“The facts are public, verifiable, and not open to personal interpretation,” Wabara said. “It is therefore misleading to allege forgery or cloning of signatures on documents that were jointly signed and witnessed by several party leaders.”
The BoT Chairman appealed to all members of the party to remain calm and united as preparations for the PDP’s 2025 elective convention continue. He said internal disagreements should be addressed through dialogue and established party mechanisms rather than through public accusations.
“The PDP has strong internal structures for resolving disputes. The Board urges all members to exercise restraint and uphold the unity and integrity of our great party,” Wabara said.
He reiterated that the Board of Trustees remains committed to ensuring transparency, fairness, and collective decision-making in all party activities, including the conduct of the forthcoming national convention.
The PDP, Nigeria’s main opposition party, has faced waves of internal conflict since losing power at the federal level in 2015. Disagreements over leadership positions, zoning, and control of party structures have repeatedly threatened its cohesion, particularly ahead of major elections.
Despite these challenges, party leaders insist that the PDP remains the only viable alternative to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and that unity among its members is essential to its political resurgence.
