- Move to hold rival NEC sessions at WADATA House today
THE crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took another dramatic turn on Monday with factions loyal to Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and Federal Capital Territory Minister (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, reportedly fixing parallel National Executive Committee (NEC) meetings at the party’s national secretariat, WADATA House in Abuja, for today, Tuesday, November 18, 2023.
With the rival factions laying claims to the opposition Party’s authentic leadership, available information indicated that the FCT Police Command has already moved to ensure that there is no break down of peace and order within the Capital city.
The clash of interest and venue of the scheduled NEC meetings come on the heels on the contentious national convention in Ibadan on Saturday, which produced a new National Working Committee (NWC) members while also expelling several high-profiled Party’s who are known loyalists of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike
However, moving to counter their expulsion by the Party’s National Convention held in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, loyalists of the FCT Minister quickly regrouped to issue a notice scheduling an emergency NEC and Board of Trustees (BoT) meeting for today at the national headquarters, Wadata House, in Abuja
Signed by the expelled former National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, the notice explained that the meeting was mandatory and meant to address “crucial matters” within the party.
Interestingly, the notice titled: “Invitation to emergency 103rd National Executive Committee Meeting,” fixed the BoT meeting for 11am and the NEC for 2 pm at the PDP national headquarters.
Turaki Kicks, Petitions Police
Meanwhile, in what party insiders described as a deft move aimed at putting Wike’s associates in check, the newly elected National Chairman, Tanimu Turaki, visited the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) headquarters to alert the authorities of an alleged plot by Anyanwu and his group to disrupt party activities.
Speaking to journalists, Turaki said, “We came to interface with the Commissioner of Police of the FCT regarding the meeting we plan to have tomorrow. It will be the inaugural meeting of our National Working Committee.”
He said Wike’s loyalists had no legitimacy after their expulsion in Ibadan.
“Next to God, the national convention is the highest authority of a political party. Those expelled are no longer members of our party. We’ve reported their moves because we do not want any breach of peace,” he said.
Turaki warned that any group attempting to operate from the secretariat outside the newly elected leadership would be treated as “interlopers.”
He vowed to personally lead the new NWC into the headquarters today, saying, “We are prepared to defend our party and our democracy.”
Following his return from the Force headquarters, the Turaki-led NWC issued its own invitation to stakeholders for an emergency meeting at the same venue.
Bature, Bode George react
Recently expelled National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature, told The PUNCH he would attend the Anyanwu-convened meeting, described as a deliberation on “the state of the party.”
A natiomal leader of the party, Chief Bode George, however, insisted that the emergency NEC and BoT meetings called by Anyanwu were illegal.
“He (Anyanwu) has been expelled. He is trying to create a parallel organ. He should wake up and go to his village,” he said.
A member of the Makinde camp, who spoke anonymously, argued that Turaki could not legitimately take over the party secretariat.
“Only 16 states participated in their so-called convention. You cannot elect national officers with delegates from just 16 states,” the source claimed.
He accused PDP leaders across the divide, Wike, Makinde, and George—of engaging in anti-party activities during the 2023 general elections.
Makarfi Quits As BoT Secretary
With the heightening tension, former Kaduna State Governor, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, on Monday, November 17, 2025 formally announced his resignation as Secretary of the PDP Board of Trustees.
Makarfi, in his letter of resignation, explained that with stepped down because the newly elected National Chairman also hails from the North-West, arguing that both offices should not be occupied by persons from the same zone.
He recalled that he had attempted to resign two months earlier but was persuaded to remain until after the national convention.
“With a Chairman now emerging from the North-West where I come from, it is necessary to give him full space to do the needful,” he wrote.
The PDP’s internal turmoil intensified after a series of conflicting court orders. A Federal High Court in Abuja had restrained the party from holding the Ibadan convention, while an Oyo State High Court granted permission for the event to proceed and directed INEC to monitor it.
Despite the legal tussle, Governors Ahmadu Fintiri, Caleb Muftwang, Bala Mohammed, and host governor Seyi Makinde attended the convention at the Lekan Salami Stadium, where Wike, Anyanwu, Acting National Chairman Abdulrahman Mohammed, former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose, and ex–South-South National Vice Chairman Dan Orbih were expelled.
Since then, both factions have been issuing statements and notices asserting leadership control.
As the warring blocs prepare for the showdown at Wadata Plaza today, Nigerians are watching to see how the PDP navigates one of its toughest internal battles ahead of the 2027 general elections.
