Nifemi Babasanmi
The Nigeria Police Force on Wednesday sealed the National Secretariat of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) located at Wadata Plaza, Abuja, following a violent confrontation between two rival factions of the party.
The lockdown came a day after supporters loyal to the Saminu Turaki-led group and those aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, engaged in a heated face-off that resulted in the firing of teargas within the secretariat premises.
The clash, which erupted as both camps attempted to assert control at the party headquarters, reportedly left Governors Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State teargassed while trying to access the building.
In the aftermath of the confrontation, the factional National Executive Committee (NEC) loyal to Wike moved swiftly, ratifying the expulsion of Governors Makinde, Mohammed and Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State, along with Senator Adolphus Wabara, Chief Bode George, and the newly elected National Chairman, Turaki, SAN.
This development followed last Saturday’s national convention in Ibadan, Oyo State, where Wike and ten others were suspended by the rival faction over allegations of anti-party conduct.
The Ibadan convention had accused Wike’s camp of attempting to undermine the party’s structure ahead of an expected nationwide reorganisation.
Tensions heightened on Tuesday when both factions converged on the PDP National Secretariat to hold parallel NEC and Board of Trustees meetings, triggering a chaotic scene as security personnel struggled to control the surging crowds and contain the shouting, pushing, and disorder that ensued.
