Photos: PDP Supporters Turn Wadata Plaza To Battlefield, Exchange Punches Amid Battle For Control

Supporters of both rival factions of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) engaged in a violent confrontation at Wadata Plaza, the party’s national secretariat in Wuse, Abuja, on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, as each side sought to assert control of the premises.

Photos from the scene as shared by Daily Trust captured chaotic scenes of men from the competing camps physically exchanging blows as others engage in arguments while heavily armed police officers stood by.

Naija News reports that the atmosphere quickly degenerated into near-physical combat as the party’s factions push for control.

The clash is rooted in the ongoing power struggle between the faction led by Kabiru Turaki, the newly elected chairman of the party and that loyal to Nyesom Wike (via his ally Samuel Anyanwu).

The Turaki camp is aligned with governors such as Seyi Makinde (Oyo) and Bala Mohammed (Bauchi).

The Anyanwu/Wike camp is said to have arrived early at the Secretariat and claimed key access by mid-morning. Turaki’s team, backed by state governors, then force-entered the building amid police interference and chaos.

Reports revealed that police operatives used teargas and that both supporters and officers exchanged blows as the factions jostled for control.

One governor from the Turaki side, Bala Mohammed, reportedly declared: “We are not leaving. There is no court order stopping our meeting.”

Naija News understands that the two sides had scheduled meetings for the same time and place: one for the National Executive Committee (NEC) and Board of Trustees (BoT) on the Wike side, and one for the new National Working Committee (NWC) under Turaki’s leadership.

Turaki was said to have earlier told the media his camp was ready for a showdown: “We are going to have our inaugural National Working Committee meeting of our party… our meeting is 10 am tomorrow. I, as the national chairman of PDP, will be leading from the front.”

Meanwhile, the Wike-aligned camp maintains that the previous leadership remains valid and challenges last weekend’s convention that produced Turaki.

Outside the Wadata Plaza gates, supporters of both factions carried placards and shouted slogans. Some reports say teargas canisters were fired, and masked police operatives attempted to keep the peace, though some eyewitnesses say the police appeared divided, with allegations of bias.

See photos from the scene below: