Wike-Aligned PDP Faction Seizes Secretariat as Party Power Struggle Deepens

Tensions within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) escalated dramatically on Tuesday as the faction aligned with Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike forcefully occupied the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.

Led by their self-declared National Chairman, Abdulrahman Mohammed, the group arrived at the premises around 9:35 a.m., accompanied by heavily armed police units who secured the building’s entrances and key positions. The move followed a public notice issued the day before, announcing their intention to hold Board of Trustees (BoT) and National Executive Committee (NEC) meetings at the location.

This action effectively sidelined the rival faction loyal to Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, which had installed Kabiru Turaki as National Chairman during the recent convention in Ibadan. Turaki’s camp, anticipating confrontation, had requested police protection to convene their own National Working Committee (NWC) meeting.

After meeting with FCT Commissioner of Police Miller Dantawaye, Turaki addressed reporters, vowing that his faction would not back down. “We are prepared to defend the soul of our party—even if it costs us everything,” he declared.

The dramatic takeover underscores the deepening rift within the PDP, as competing factions vie for control in the lead-up to the 2027 elections. With armed escorts, rival leadership claims, and threats of resistance, the party’s internal crisis appears far from resolution.