The internal crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party deepened on Saturday as a faction aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, assumed control of the party’s national secretariat in Abuja following the unsealing of the facility by the police.
The development comes months after the party’s headquarters, Wadata Plaza, was shut in the wake of a violent leadership clash that erupted on November 18, 2025, between rival factions of the National Working Committee.
The crisis pits the Tanimu Turaki (SAN)-led faction, backed by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, against a rival camp led by Abdulrahman Mohammed, which enjoys the support of Wike.
Tensions escalated after the Court of Appeal, in a ruling delivered on March 9, 2026, voided the Ibadan convention held on November 16, 2025, which had been endorsed by governors loyal to the Turaki faction.
Riding on the judgment, the Wike-backed faction announced on Saturday that the Nigeria Police Force had reopened and handed over both Wadata Plaza and Legacy House, Maitama, to its leadership.
In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Mohammed, the Abdulrahman Mohammed-led NWC confirmed the takeover and warned against any attempt to disrupt activities at the secretariat.
“The National Secretariat has been unsealed and handed over in full compliance with duly issued court orders,” the statement read, commending the police for “professionalism and adherence to the rule of law.”
The faction described the development as a turning point in the party’s crisis, urging aggrieved members to embrace reconciliation and unity.
It also lauded Wike for his “invaluable support and leadership” during the protracted dispute.
However, the Turaki-led faction swiftly rejected the takeover, accusing security agencies and other national institutions of partisanship.
Speaking on behalf of the faction, its spokesperson, Ini Ememobong, faulted the reliance on a court ruling that he said had already been appealed, insisting that no subsisting order justified the takeover.
“Both factions are laying claim to the secretariat. While one is relying on a judgment, that judgment has been appealed, and the police have been duly served,” he said.
Ememobong described the action as part of a broader pattern of institutional bias, alleging that key state institutions, including the judiciary, had been “weaponised” in the ongoing political struggle.
In a separate statement, the faction condemned the police for unsealing the secretariat despite the pending appeal, warning that the action could undermine the eventual decision of the appellate court.
“It is most shameful that those entrusted with protecting the law are the ones disobeying it,” the statement read.
The group further alleged that the takeover was aided by “agents of the Federal Government and APC apologists,” a claim likely to heighten political tensions within the opposition party.
Despite the sharp disagreement, the Turaki camp urged its supporters to remain peaceful and law-abiding, while expressing optimism that the legal battle would ultimately be resolved in its favour.
The latest development underscores the deepening leadership crisis within the PDP, raising fresh concerns over the party’s cohesion and preparedness ahead of future electoral contests.
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