Speaking to journalists outside the party’s National Secretariat in Wuse Zone 5 on Tuesday, Turaki accused the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, of orchestrating a violent takeover of the PDP headquarters with the aid of armed thugs.

“Thugs led by the FCT Minister stormed the secretariat, overpowered our members, and took control of the premises,” Turaki alleged. 

He further claimed that police officers fired gunshots and prevented legitimate party members from entering the building.

The factional chairman stressed that the crisis had reached a critical point, revealing that his group had earlier vowed to “lay down their lives” to protect both the PDP and Nigeria’s democratic system.

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, who threw his weight behind Turaki’s faction, described the confrontation as no longer an internal party matter. 

“This is now a struggle to save Nigeria’s democracy and its institutions,” Makinde declared.The standoff turned violent when suspected thugs assaulted a Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) cameraman, inflicting a head injury and destroying his equipment. 

The attack was reportedly stopped after Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed intervened.While chaos reigned outside, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, backed by the Wike camp and his supporters continued a meeting inside the National Executive Committee (NEC) hall. 

Meanwhile, Minister Nyesom Wike remained inside his vehicle on the premises, guarded by heavily armed security operatives.

The dramatic events mark the latest chapter in the protracted leadership crisis tearing Africa’s largest opposition party apart, raising fresh concerns about political stability ahead of future elections.