A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, on Tuesday took control of the party’s national secretariat, Wadata Plaza, in Abuja.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the move comes ahead of a parallel stakeholders’ meeting scheduled by the group that held a controversial national convention in Ibadan over the weekend.
The Taminu Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC), elected at the Ibadan convention, was expected to host its inaugural meeting with party leaders at 10 a.m. at the secretariat. At the same time, the Abdulrahman Mohammed-led faction summoned emergency National Executive Committee (NEC) and Board of Trustees (BoT) meetings for 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., respectively using the same venue.
Insightlinks gathered that Abdulrahman Mohammed, the factional national chairman, had already arrived at the building, which had previously been locked. Security around the area was also significantly heightened.
Armed operatives from the Mobile Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and the Department of State Services were stationed at the entrance and other strategic points around the secretariat. Patrol vehicles lined nearby roads to prevent clashes, as both factions insist they are the rightful occupants of the party offices.
Suspended National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, was also seen inside the secretariat. Accreditation for his camp’s 103rd NEC meeting had already begun, although the Turaki faction had yet to arrive.
Outside the premises, anti-Turaki protesters carried placards reading “No to Turaki” and “Turaki must go,” dancing to drumbeats as tensions simmered.
Speaking to journalists before the BoT meeting commenced, Anyanwu downplayed the heavy security presence, calling it routine whenever the party hosts major meetings.
“Anytime we’re having a BoT or NEC meeting, we invite security to prevent disruption. It’s not the first time,” he explained.
He added that he had officially notified all security agencies and INEC on November 14 about the meetings.
Defending his position amid his suspension at the Ibadan convention, Anyanwu dismissed the exercise entirely.
“On what basis are we being expelled? Which convention? I never communicated with INEC about any convention, so officially, no convention took place,” he said.
He also claimed that the so-called delegates at the Ibadan gathering were not legitimate.
“Two-thirds of state delegates were not present. Some people were even picked from the roadside, dressed in PDP uniforms, and placed at state stands,” he alleged.
With both factions laying claim to leadership and the secretariat, tensions within the PDP continue to escalate, raising concerns about the party’s stability ahead of future political engagements.
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