Chaos erupted at Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, National Secretariat in Abuja on Tuesday as rival factions, led by Governors Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State on one side, and FCT Minister Nyesom Wike on the other, clashed over control of the party’s headquarters amid the ongoing leadership dispute.
According to ARISE, security operatives aligned with both the FCT minister and governors Seyi Makinde and Bala Mohammed engaged in a chaotic standoff over control of the complex, with teargas reportedly deployed around the premises by both sides.
Governor Makinde stormed the venue alongside the newly elected National Secretary, Taofeek Arapaja, while Nyesom Wike remained with Samuel Anyanwu, the embattled National Secretary who maintains that his tenure remains valid until December 8, 2025.
Party leaders have expressed deep concern over the incident, accusing the police of failing to maintain neutrality amid the ongoing leadership crisis within the opposition
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) faction loyal to the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has taken over the party’s national secretariat, Wadata Plaza, Abuja.
The take-over of the party’s secretariat was ahead of the parallel meeting reportedly scheduled for the same venue by the faction that held its national convention in Ibadan at the weekend.
The Taminu Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC) elected at the Ibadan controversial national convention had scheduled its inaugural meeting with party stakeholders at 10 a.m. at the PDP national secretariat.
Also, the Abdulrahman-led faction of NWC had summoned an emergency National Executive Committee (NEC) and Board of Trustees (BoT) meetings for 11a.m. and 2 p.m. respectively at the same venue.
The factional National Chairman, Abdulrahman Mohammed, was already at the secretariat building, which was before now under lock and key.
Thr Atlantic Bell reports that armed security operatives were also deployed to the party secretariat.
The operatives, comprising personnel of the Mobile Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and Department of State Services (DSS), were stationed at the entrance gates of the party and other strategic locations within the party premises and environs.
There were also security patrol vehicles stationed along the roads leading to the party secretariat, aimed at forestalling any breakdown of law and order, as the PDP factions lay claim to offices within the premises.
While the suspended National Secretary of the party, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu had already gained access to the party secretariat, with accreditation ongoing ahead of their 103 NEC meeting in progress, the Turaki faction also arrived.
