It was a moment of confusion Tuesday as two warring factions in the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) renewed hostilities over the control of Wadata Plaza, the party’s national headquarters in Abuja.
The scenario pitted security agents against themselves, all in a bid to protect and ensure the realisation of their principals’ interest while the fracas lasted.
It all started when the party’s factional national secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, an ally of the FCT Minister, Barrister Nyesom Wike, appeared as early as 8:00am in preparation for its 103rd National Executive Meeting (NEC) earlier fixed for today (November 18, 2025) at the party’s headquarters.
And as the factional chairman, Abdulrahman Mohammed-led National Working Committee (NWC) was getting ready for the NEC, the recently elected national chairman, Tanimu Turaki faction was also planning Wadata Plaza takeover.
Shortly after the accreditation of journalists at the venue, the Turaki-led faction, at about 10:05 am, mobilised supporters to the party headquarters, claiming that a strategic meeting, the first of its kind by the newly elected party officials was also scheduled for the same venue.
Trouble started when supporters loyal to the Wike/Anyanwu/ Abdulrahman faction tried to stop them at the gate.
Blueprint.ng reports that their supporters fought back fiercely, and with police intervention, Governors Bala Mohammed of Bauchi state, and his Oyo counterpart, Engr Seyi Makinde, alongside Turaki, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, (SAN), forcefully gained entrance into the venue despite the barricades mounted by the other faction.
Blueprint.ng correspondent, who monitored the situation, observed that the police and other security aides attached to the governors and other top party chieftains had to engage themselves in physical brawl to do their masters’ bidding in the midst of the confusion.
Turaki had earlier sought protection from the police when he stormed the FCT command Monday ahead of today’s encounter.
…Anyanwu speaks
While addressing newsmen at the secretariat to signal the commencement of the party’s 103rd NEC meeting, the muscle-flexing continued as each faction and supporters tried to expel others from the premises.
At that point, the police personnel, who were already stationed around the vicinity, fired teargas to disperse the warring factions and their supporters.
…Wike’s arrival
Tension heightened a few minutes after when the FCT minister arrived at the scene.
Wike, who drove in convoy, was stopped at the gate by a team led by the Bauchi state governor.
Findings by Blueprint.ng revealed that Wike also came around to attend the factional NEC meeting to be led by Abdulrahman.
But as soon as they sighted the minister and his entourage, the Turaki faction and the governor stormed the frontage of the party headquarters and formed a barricade, thereby preventing Wike from gaining access.
Bala, Makinde, Turaki, Kosheodo, Richard, and other newly elected NWC were seen at the main entrance.
It became a tug of war as they stood their ground, saying the minister and his entourage would not attend the 103rd NEC meeting.
It was another round of pandemonium as the supporters and security personnel were seen making ways for their principals to enter the venue.
It became so rowdy and tense that the police immediately swung into action again.
This time, they not only stationed their vehicles around adjoining roads to prevent other supporters and thugs from accessing the venue, they had to fire another round of tear gas to disperse all the personalities at the entrance.
The whole scenario became so choked up that journalists on official duties within the premises, staff, and other people occupying both inside and the main gate, dispersed in different directions.
Others were captured by our correspondent on camera scampering for safety as they coughed and covered their noses to reduce the intensity of the teargas.
…Bala speaks
After the situation simmered a bit, Governor Bala, visibly looking angry, addressed the press, saying usurpers and interlopers were now occupying their secretariat.
He then called on U.S. President Donald Trump and the international community to wade in and save democracy in
Bala, who is the chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, said “enough is enough as PDP does not belong to any single individual, but to Nigerians.”
He said governors elected on the party’s platform would not sit by and watch it destroyed “by people who neither understand its history nor respect its future.”
The governor pledged to work with the Turaki-led NWC to defend the national secretariat, members for internal democracy and will do so with unity, strategy, and unwavering commitment to the rule of law as the party is resolute to work against sabotage.
He said the PDP would not be cowed, harassed or silenced, noting that “the party has survived tougher battles, and we will emerge from this moment stronger, more united, and more determined.”
“Those who believe governance is about suppressing opposition rather than serving the peoples, such individuals are not helping the country, and they are certainly not helping the PDP, instead, their actions are destroying the institutions that hold the nation together,” he said.
On his part, Tanimu appealed to the international community to come and rescue Nigerian democracy from collapse.
The PDP national chairman also called on the presidency and all relevant institutions to immediately address this abuse of power, saying Nigeria’s democracy cannot thrive when political intimidation becomes the order of the day.
Expressing regrets over the whole drama, the silk said: “We won’t give up our secretariat, and we shall defend it with our lives.”
As of the time of writing this report, Wike, Anyanwu, Makinde, Turaki, and Mohammed were all occupying the hall, claiming ownership of the secretariat.
The two factions held meetings at the same secretariat but in different halls.
As of 02:18 p.m., the riot police doused the tension after successfully driving out multitudes out of the secretariat, leave the two camps to hold their separate meetings.
Wike was seen in his vehicle, which was being guarded by a team of police to avoid any confrontation with Makinde and other political actors on ground.
The minister’s supporters were also on the ground to ensure their principal’s safety, just as everyone started treating others with suspicion, not knowing what could happen next.
Some PDP chieftains are also being awaited to intervene just as information reaching our medium revealed that the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, was also being expected for possible intervention, but he never came. The IGP, however, did not come.
There were no casualties from either side as of the time of filing this report.
..Makinde, others expelled
And rising from its NEC meeting, the Abdulrahman faction of the PDP, announced the suspension of Makinde, Mohammed, Turaki and Chief Bode George as well as the former Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Senator Adolphus Wabara.
This is a follow-up move to the expulsion of Wike and others at the Ibadan National Convention which produced the Turaki-led NWC.
The meeting also dissolved the state executive councils in Oyo, Bauchi, Zamfara, Yobe, Lagos, and Ekiti states, directing the constitution of caretaker committees and the conduct of fresh congresses.
In a communique read by Senator Anyanwu, they said: “NEC received the report of the Acting National Chairman, Hon. Abdulrahman Mohammed, detailing breaches of Articles 58(1) and 59(1), including anti-party activities, disobedience to court orders, and conduct bringing the party into disrepute.
“NEC approved the commencement of disciplinary procedures against the following: Adolphus Wabara, Olabode George, Ben N. Obi, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN, Bala Mohammed, Oluseyi Makinde, Dauda Lawal, Taofiq Arapaja, Setonji Koshoedo, Okechukwu Obiechina Daniel, Woyengikuro Daniel, Mohammed Kadade Suleiman, Emmanuel Ogidi, Sumaila Adamu Burga, Umar Sani, Udom Emmanuel, and Emmanuel Enorden.”
