By Onilede Titi Faith
Tension escalated at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), national secretariat in Abuja on Tuesday as two rival factions attempted to hold separate meetings at the same venue, prompting heavy security deployment.
A video shared by Symfoni showed armed policemen and patrol vans positioned at the entrance of Wadata Plaza as officers screened individuals entering the premises.
Factional national secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, aligned with FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, arrived early and took control of the secretariat. Speaking to journalists, he insisted he remains the party’s legitimate national secretary until his tenure ends in December, adding that he invited security personnel to prevent disruptions.
“It is the PDP’s usual practice to call in security whenever a major meeting is scheduled,” Anyanwu said, stressing that the aim was to keep “intruders” from interfering.
The crisis deepened after Monday’s controversial national convention in Ibadan, which produced a new National Working Committee and expelled several Wike loyalists.
Despite their expulsion, Wike’s camp issued a notice convening an emergency NEC and BoT meeting at the headquarters, the same venue and time scheduled by the Kabiru Turaki-led faction, which claims legitimacy from the convention.
Turaki accused Anyanwu’s faction of attempting to destabilise the party, insisting that those expelled have no authority to convene any meeting.
“Next to God, the national convention is the highest authority. Those expelled are no longer members of our party,” he said, warning that any group operating outside the newly elected leadership would be treated as “interlopers.”
Security operatives maintained a heavy presence as both groups maneuvered for control, deepening fears of a possible confrontation.
