The Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has dismissed allegations of forgery and signature cloning made by the party’s National Secretary, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu as false and baseless.
This is contained in a statement issued by the BoT Chairman, Sen. Adolphus Wabara in Abuja on Thursday.
Senator Anyanwu had alleged that his signature was forged on the correspondence transmitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) regarding the party’s forthcoming elective convention.
Senator Wabara said that the BoT would have preferred to refrain from engaging in matters of internal administrative procedure in the public domain.
He, however, said that the gravity of the allegation and its capacity to mislead party members and the general public, necessitated a clear and factual clarification.
According to him, “It is on record that the said INEC notification letter was jointly signed by the National Chairman, Umar Damagum and Anyanwu, Aug. 25, during the 102nd meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the PDP.
“The signing took place in the presence of critical organs and stakeholders of the party, including members of the PDP Governors’ Forum, the BOT and other NEC members who witnessed the process,” Wabara said.
He also said that subsequent to that, Anyanwu was formally inaugurated as the Secretary of the Contact and Mobilization Sub-Committee for the 2025 National Convention.
Wabara added that in that capacity, Anyanwu co-signed official communications of the sub-committee, including letters of appointment issued to its members, alongside the Sub-Committee Chairman, Sen. Douye Diri, Governor of Bayelsa State.
“Furthermore, Anyanwu, in his capacity as Sub-Committee Secretary, personally signed and transmitted a letter seeking financial approval for the inaugural meeting of the sub-committee.
“These verifiable correspondences, bearing his signature, are in the custody of the party and relevant convention committees.
“In view of these incontrovertible facts, the BoT finds Anyanwu’s claim of forgery to be baseless, misleading, and to say the least, reprehensible being inconsistent with the documented record of events.
“Such allegations, regrettably, can only be interpreted as a deliberate attempt to cast aspersions on the integrity of the Party’s leadership and processes, and to misinform security agencies and the general public,’’ he said.
Wabara reaffirmed the board cohesive, resolute, and unwatering’s commitment to democratic values, transparency, and internal harmony.
He said that the forthcoming national convention shall by every measure, be a credible and unifying exercise reflective of the PDP’s long-standing tradition of internal democracy.
Wabara called on on all members, stakeholders, and supporters of the PDP to disregard the “unfounded claims’’ by Anyanwu.
He urged them to remain steadfast in their support for the leadership of PDP as they continue to chart a course for Nigeria’s democratic renewal on the platform of the PDP.
