A dramatic standoff unfolded on Tuesday at the national headquarters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja, as rival factions battled for control amid a deepening leadership crisis.
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed and newly elected National Chairman, Tanimu Turaki, arrived at Wadata Plaza in a convoy and remained seated inside Bala Mohammed’s vehicle due to heightened security tension.
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At the same time, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, was also held up in his vehicle within the premises, refusing to leave.
Earlier, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, a key figure in the pro-Wike faction, stormed the secretariat with supporters and addressed journalists.
He mocked the Turaki-led leadership elected at the Ibadan convention over the weekend, insisting his camp remained the authentic PDP leadership.
Anyanwu and his loyalists were preparing to hold their own meeting at the NEC Hall when Makinde, Bala Mohammed and members of the newly inaugurated National Working Committee walked in.
Despite heavy security barricades, Makinde and Bala forced their way into the NEC Hall and addressed journalists.
They announced the postponement of the Board of Trustees and National Executive Committee meetings to Wednesday due to the volatile situation.
Turaki declared that Anyanwu and his faction were “no longer members of the party” and vowed to safeguard what he called the mandate given to the new NWC.
As the Turaki-led camp prepared to depart, tension spiked when Wike arrived at the party headquarters.
The FCT Minister forced his way through the heavy security presence into the secretariat, prompting Makinde, Bala and Turaki to remain inside the premises instead of leaving.
Security operatives subsequently ordered everyone, including journalists, to vacate the premises due to fears of a breakdown of law and order.
However, the governors and PDP leaders refused to leave unless Wike was also ordered out of the party headquarters.