…as police seal off party’s Wadata Plaza National Secretariat
The battle for the control of the Peoples Democratic Party took a new twist on Monday in Abuja when loyalists of the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, forcefully took over the party’s National Secretariat, Wadata Plaza, in the absence of governors elected on the party’s platform and their loyalists.
Members of the National Working Committee, led by the party’s National Chairman, Umar Damagum, who have been enjoying the support of the PDP governors, were nowhere near the secretariat when the Wike-backed faction took over on Monday.
It was not clear, as of the time of filing this report, what the PDP Governors’ Forum, led by Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed, intended to do in the interim, with Damagum appearing to have lost out in the power tussle.
However, a PDP chieftain with knowledge of the matter said Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, Bala Mohammed, and the remaining five PDP governors under the platform would fight to reclaim the party from Wike’s allies.
“This is a serious situation we’ve found ourselves in as members of the PDP, but I can assure you that the governors will do everything to reclaim the party from those who don’t mean well for it,” the chieftain said on condition of anonymity.
The dramatic takeover led to chaos within the secretariat as some staff members were attacked, prompting the police to swiftly intervene and seal off the building to prevent a further breakdown of law and order.
Upon assuming the office of National Chairman at the party’s secretariat, Abdulrahman Mohammed, backed by Wike, appealed to members for calm, urging them to shun blame games and work together to restore unity and stability within the PDP.
Recall that despite scheduling its National Elective Convention for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State, the PDP remains engulfed in severe internal squabbles.
Wike’s supporters have continued to express dissatisfaction with the leadership of Damagum. Their grievances centre on unresolved crises over the South-South zonal leadership and the control of party structures in Cross River, Akwa Ibom, and Plateau states. Disputes over micro-zoning ahead of the convention have further intensified tensions.
The conflict took a legal turn when the Federal High Court in Abuja, on Friday, issued an interim order halting the convention.
In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025, Justice James Omotosho restrained the PDP from proceeding with the event pending compliance with its constitution, the 1999 Constitution, and the Electoral Act 2022.
The suit was instituted by three aggrieved members — Austin Nwachukwu (Imo State PDP Chairman), Amah Abraham Nnanna (Abia State PDP Chairman), and Turnah Alabh George (Secretary, PDP South-South Zone).
The ruling has further worsened the crisis, creating two opposing camps — one loyal to Damagum and the other to National Vice Chairman (North Central), Abdulrahman Mohammed, who’s now assumed the party’s Acting Chairman position.
On Saturday in Abuja, the Damagum-led NWC, through the National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, announced the suspension of National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu; National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade; Deputy Legal Adviser, Okechukwu Osuoha; and National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature, for 30 days over alleged anti-party activities.
In a counter move, Anyanwu, speaking for the Mohammed-led faction, announced the suspension of Damagum, Ologunagba, National Deputy Chairman (South), Taofeek Arapaja; National Financial Secretary, Daniel Woyenguikoro; National Youth Leader, Sulaiman Kadade; and Deputy National Secretary, Setonji Koshoedo, also for 30 days, citing alleged financial mismanagement and incompetence.
Earlier on Monday, a few minutes after 9am, the Wike-led faction of the PDP headed by Mohammed gathered at the party’s Federal Capital Territory office in Wuse Zone 4, Abuja.
Joining the factional chairman at the FCT PDP office were the Deputy National Youth Leader, Timothy Osadolor; the suspended Deputy National Legal Adviser, Okechukwu Osuoha; and the Anambra and Imo State PDP chairmen.
Surrounded by FCT PDP supporters amid heavy security presence, Mohammed told journalists that he was assuming control of the party’s National Secretariat at Wadata Plaza as the legitimate chairman.
Reading from a speech titled “A New Dawn,” Abdulrahman said, “We are all aware of the current pitiable state of our glorious party because of the actions and inactions of our leaders and members. From being the ruling party for 16 uninterrupted years to being an opposition party for over 10 years now; from being a formidable opposition, we’re now a humbled opposition owing to the unexplainable defections of governors, legislators, and council chairmen, among others.
“I have accepted to become Acting National Chairman at this difficult time through the mercy of God and the instrumentality of critical stakeholders of this party. My job here is to heal the party of its wounds and end factionalisation.”
He also promised to reposition the party, make it law-abiding, plan an all-inclusive national convention, and hand over to a properly elected National Working Committee after concluding all outstanding congresses at all levels.
He pledged to hand over “our beloved party back to her true owners, the Nigerian people.”
He added, “I want to assure all PDP faithful, stakeholders, and Nigerians at large that a new dawn has come and, with it, the renaissance of the PDP.”
Moments after Mohammed addressed his supporters, they began mobilising to move towards the PDP National Secretariat at Wadata Plaza, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja.
Our correspondent, who arrived at the scene ahead of the faction, observed a heavy deployment of security operatives around the complex. Members of the Damagum-led NWC stayed away from the secretariat, while Senator Anyanwu was sighted in the office of the PDP National Secretary.
Around 11am, tension heightened when a staff member rushed into the press centre to alert journalists that some party workers were mobilising to eject Anyanwu from his office, citing his suspension.
The move, however, met stiff resistance from Anyanwu’s aides, private security personnel, and police officers stationed at the secretariat, leading to a scuffle.
The confrontation left at least two party staff members injured before order was restored.
Shortly after the commotion, Mohammed and his supporters arrived and gained access to the building.
Addressing the media briefly, Mohammed declared control over the PDP National Headquarters before proceeding to the National Chairman’s office.
While meeting with Anyanwu, the suspended Deputy Legal Adviser, and several others, Mohammed urged party leaders and members to put the past behind them and work in unison to reposition the PDP ahead of the 2027 election.
He said, “This is not the time to trade blame. It is time for all of us to unite for the progress of the PDP. We do not have any other political party greater than the PDP.”
He added, “Under my leadership, I will do everything possible to ensure that all members work together in understanding and unity for the progress of our great party and Nigeria at large.”
Mohammed also called for strict adherence to the PDP constitution and promised to act selflessly.
Moments after the Wike-led faction left a few minutes after noon, the police ordered everyone to vacate the premises and sealed off both entrances to the party’s national headquarters.
– George
Meanwhile, PDP chieftain, Chief Bode George, called on the National Judicial Council to probe Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, over his recent ruling halting the party’s national convention in Ibadan.
George, a former Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, made the call in an exclusive interview with The PUNCH in Abuja.
He said the ruling was to blame for the worsening leadership crisis in the party, which culminated in the takeover of Damagum’s office by Mohammed on Monday.
He said, “The NJC should investigate and remove Omotosho’s wig so that he can join partisan politics. The Supreme Court has ruled before that the internal problems of political parties should be resolved within the party. So what is Justice Omotosho’s business with our convention?”
The elder statesman also accused Wike of fuelling the crisis, saying, “He is interested in winning the 2027 election for President Tinubu but should let the PDP be. He gave policemen to three suspended persons to cause crisis in the party. What they are doing cannot stand.”
Meanwhile, PDP National Youth Leader, Mohammed Kadade, attributed Monday’s events at the secretariat to his absence.
He said in a WhatsApp message, “If I were on the ground today, all these things wouldn’t have happened. But I dare whoever is behind them to repeat that.”
Efforts to reach Wike’s loyalists, including Senator Anyanwu, were unsuccessful as they did not respond to messages. Calls and texts to Damagum and PDP spokesman, Debo Ologunagba, were also ignored.
(Source: Punch except the headline)
