About 72 hours after its controversial convention in Ibadan, the factions within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) appear poised for a showdown as each has vowed to hold its meeting at the Wadata headquarters of the party on Tuesday November 18, 2025.
In an invitation letter marked “emergency” National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting made available to newsmen on Monday, the Barr Nyesom Wike-backed faction summoned both BoT and NEC for the same secretarial.
A notice signed by Samuel Anyanwu, an ally of Nyesom Wike, Minister of FCT, said the BoT meeting is expected to convene at 11 am on Tuesday.
In the same vein, the newly elected National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Tanimu Turaki, has also requested police protection for himself and members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) ahead of their inaugural meeting scheduled for Tuesday, same place by 10am at the PDP National Secretariat in Abuja.
Turaki made the request Tuesday during a visit to the FCT Police Command in Garki, Abuja, citing a conflicting notice of a National Executive Committee (NEC) and Board of Trustees (BoT) meeting allegedly issued by former National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu. Turaki described the notice as an attempt to cause confusion, noting that it was slated for the same date, time, and venue.
Speaking to journalists after meeting with the Commissioner of Police, Turaki said he was prepared to confront anyone attempting to disrupt Tuesday’s meeting.
“We came to interface with the FCT Commissioner of Police regarding our planned inaugural NWC meeting. We have invited our stakeholders, founding fathers, governors, National Assembly members, BoT members, state chairmen, and other critical stakeholders,” he stated.
He added that those issuing the parallel meeting notice were no longer members of the party, recalling that their expulsion was ratified at the recent National Convention in Ibadan.
“Our National Convention has taken a decision to expel these elements, and that decision overrides any taken by any organ of the party. We have reported their moves to the police because we do not want any breach of peace,” Turaki said.
Reaffirming the NWC’s readiness to take control of the party’s assets, Turaki disclosed that the inaugural meeting would hold at the Wadata Plaza headquarters.
“We are holding the meeting at our National Secretariat. Anyone sitting there without our consent is an interloper. We haven’t asked the police to lock up our offices. We will go there, have the offices opened, and perform the functions for which we were elected,” he declared.
The Chairman emphasized the committee’s determination to defend the party and protect Nigeria’s democracy.
“To defend our party and this democracy, we are prepared to lay down our lives. If anyone tries to prevent us, we pray for them,” he said.
Turaki confirmed that the meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, adding that the Police Commissioner had assured the NWC of adequate protection.
“The CP has assured us that there will be no breakdown of law and order. We expect the police to give us the protection we are entitled to under the law,” he said.
