By Ayomide Otitoju
The national secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja was cordoned off by police on Wednesday following a violent clash between rival party factions the previous day.
A visit to Wadata Plaza by our correspondent revealed barbed wire barricades preventing access to the headquarters. Only a few policemen were present, and leaders of the warring factions were absent.
A chieftain of the faction led by Kabiru Turaki opposed the police barricade, vowing that his group would “come to their office as no one can stop them.”
The confrontation erupted on Tuesday when supporters of Samuel Anyanwu, aligned with FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, refused to vacate the secretariat. Tensions escalated as Turaki, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Bala Mohammed of Bauchi, and other newly elected PDP executives attempted to enter the premises. Police fired teargas as Anyanwu’s supporters tried to block their entry.
Turaki described the standoff as a test of restraint. “If we had not exercised restraint, there would have been bloodshed here,” he said. He added that more than 50 teargas canisters were fired but insisted his group remained determined.
Turaki later declared that he had assumed office as PDP national chairman. Addressing the press, he said, “For the past seven hours, Nigerians have witnessed the struggle with renegade members expelled at our national convention in Ibadan. They came with armed thugs, but we contained them and have assumed leadership as the elected chairman.”
The clash follows the PDP convention held in Ibadan from November 15 to 16, 2025, which was marred by conflicting court judgments—one sanctioning the convention and another ordering a halt. During the convention, Turaki’s faction expelled Anyanwu, Wike, former Ekiti Governor Ayodele Fayose, and others for alleged anti-party activities. In retaliation, Anyanwu’s group dismissed the suspensions as illegal and expelled Turaki, Makinde, Mohammed, and other executives.
