A looming clash between two contending factions of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) triggered an early-morning security lockdown at the party’s national secretariat, Wadata Plaza, Abuja, on Tuesday.
Heavily armed operatives from the Mobile Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the Department of State Services (DSS) took over the area from about 5 a.m., responding to rising tension over competing claims to the party’s leadership structure and office space.
The crisis intensified after a faction loyal to Nyesom Wike and Samuel Anyanwu—both of whom were expelled at the party’s national convention in Ibadan last weekend—summoned members to a National Working Committee (NWC) meeting at the secretariat. The newly elected NWC, led by national chairman Tanimu Turaki, also fixed its own meeting for the same venue on Tuesday, setting the stage for a confrontation.
On Monday, the Turaki-led committee visited the Garki Command of the Nigeria Police Force to request security coverage for its scheduled meeting.
By Tuesday morning, anti-Turaki protesters had gathered at the secretariat gate, with some women waving placards that read “No to Turaki” and “Turaki must go,” dancing to the beat of drummers. Across the road, stern-looking young men from opposing groups took strategic positions, while security personnel maintained a watchful but calm presence.
Meanwhile, Samuel Anyanwu, the expelled National Secretary aligned with the Wike group, arrived at the headquarters as early as 7 a.m., adding to the charged atmosphere as both factions awaited the day’s developments.
