The newly elected National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Kabiru Turaki, on Tuesday evening, took possession of the Wadata Plaza’s national secretariat of the party after spirited attempt by the Nyesom Wike-led faction to take control of the building.
Following the takeover of the Secretariat, Turaki announced the postponement of the inaugural meeting of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP, earlier scheduled for Tuesday in Abuja, saying that the shift became necessary as a result of the actions of “those undermining democracy and progress”.
Turaki, who was accompanied by the Governors Bala Mohammed and Seyi Makinde of Bauchi and Oyo States respectively, said the meeting will now hold on Wednesday, November 19.-
The PDP National Chairman specifically thanked the FCT Commissioner of police for providing security that allowed the party’s leadership to gain access to the PDP national secretariat.
Turaki said that he had briefed the commissioner of police about the planned National Working Committee (NWC) meeting as well as notified him of “flyers circulating on social media” announcing NEC and Board of Trustees (BoT) meetings by some persons who are no longer recognised as members of the party.
The PDP boss said the police kept their word by ensuring the party leaders were able to gain access into the Party secretariat to address journalists.
Turaki also thanked party stakeholders for their support, stressing that the PDP remain committed to unity and stability.
He said; “Governors, National Assembly members, former governors, ex-ministers, BoT members, state chairmen and members of the immediate past NWC had shown solidarity by accompanying me to the national secretariat.
“The PDP is focused on restoring its strength and must first secure national cohesion to return to power,” he said.
Earlier in the day, the PDP headquarters was turned into a theatre of chaos as supporters of both the Turaki-led NWC and supporters of Wike clashed over possession of the Wadata Plaza complex.
The development led to operatives of the Nigeria police firing tear gas canisters and gunshots at unarmed party men and supporters thereby escalated Nigeria’s deepening political turmoil.
Staff of the PDP, journalists, and loyal supporters of the party by both factions to gain access to the secretariat for scheduled inaugural meeting of the newly elected National Working Committee (NWC) of the Party and NEC meeting scheduled by the Wike-led faction.
However, at about 10:00am when convoys conveying Governors Seyi Makinde (Oyo State) and Bala Mohammed (Bauchi State), and the newly elected PDP National Chairman, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN), approached the premises, thugs were mobilized by the expelled former National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu to prevent them from entering the premises which led to a tense standoff in the presence of policemen.
Commenting on the unfortunate incident, a senior party member, Pius Kennedy said the action of the Wike-led group was a blatant assault on democracy and the rule of law. According to him; “Unarmed Nigerians exercising their constitutional rights are being treated like criminals by security forces acting on the behest of political godfathers”.
Similarly, some party staff were also manhandled and ordered to vacate the secretariat thereby underscored what critics described as a coordinated effort to suppress the opposition ahead of critical 2027 election preparations.
