The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has taken a fresh twist as the party’s National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, has petitioned the Department of State Services (DSS), the Inspector-General of Police, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over an alleged forgery of his signature.

The development adds a new dimension to the internal wrangling threatening the conduct of the party’s proposed National Convention scheduled for November 15 and 16.

In petitions dated October 15 and submitted to the three agencies on October 16, copies of which were obtained by newsmen, Anyanwu claimed that he did not sign the August 29 letter to INEC notifying the commission of the planned convention.

Despite the PDP’s earlier decision to hold its elective convention in Ibadan, Oyo State, tension continues to mount within the party. Loyalists of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, are said to be at odds with the Acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum, over issues including the South-South zonal leadership, control of party structures in several states, and the micro-zoning formula for national offices.

The disputes have now snowballed into a legal battle, with a suit filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja, seeking to halt the convention.

In suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/25, PDP chairmen from Imo and Abia States, Austin Nwachukwu and Amah Abraham Nnanna, alongside the South-South Zonal Secretary, Turnah Alabah George, accused the Damagum-led National Working Committee (NWC) of breaching the party’s constitution and internal electoral guidelines. The plaintiffs joined INEC, the PDP, Damagum, and other senior members as defendants.

At Tuesday’s proceedings before Justice James Omotosho, the case was adjourned to October 16 following a dispute over who was authorised to represent the PDP in court. Two Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Kamaldeen Ajibade and Chief Chris Uche, both claimed to be the party’s counsel.

Justice Omotosho directed them to submit proof of authorisation before the substantive hearing and subsequently fixed October 20 for the main hearing, ordering all parties to exchange processes by October 17.

Meanwhile, a letter dated October 16 and signed by 14 members of the NWC reaffirmed the decision to remove the National Legal Adviser, citing alleged compromise and to appoint Chief Uche (SAN) as his replacement.

However, Ajibade insisted that he remains the duly elected National Legal Adviser and that only a national convention has the authority to remove him.

In his petition to the security agencies, Anyanwu denied authoring the contentious letter to INEC and called for an immediate investigation and prosecution of those involved.

His petition to INEC, titled “RE: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Year 2025 Elective National Convention: Petition Against Forgery and Cloning of My Signature”, read in part:

“My attention has been drawn to the above-titled official letter to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) with Ref. No. PDP/DOM/GF.2/Vol. 1M/25-140 dated Monday, August 25, 2025, purportedly signed by me.

Regrettably, the quoted letter was never signed, authorised, or known to me. It is shocking to have a forged or cloned version of my signature on the letter.

I therefore request that this criminal conduct by officers of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and their collaborators within INEC be investigated and the culprits prosecuted.”

Anyanwu attached an excerpt of the alleged forged document to his petitions for reference.

He submitted similar letters to the DSS and the Inspector-General of Police, urging both agencies to investigate and bring the perpetrators to justice.

The petitions mark another major setback for the PDP as it struggles to reconcile its internal divisions ahead of its convention and reposition itself as Nigeria’s main opposition party.