19/11/2025
Wike faction forcefully takes over PDP National secretariat, locks out Makinde faction.
From Cyril Mbah, Abuja.
A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) loyal to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, on Tuesday drove out workers and took over the Wadata House National Secretariat of the party located at Wuse Zone 5 of the Federal Capital Territory, barring the Makinde faction led by newly elected National Chairman, Barrister Kabiru Turaki from gaining entry into the premises.
Members of the Wike faction, led by its National Chairman, Alhaji Abdulrahman Mohammed, stormed the secretariat building with thugs early Tuesday morning, escorted by truckloads of heavily armed police personnel, who also took strategic positions at entry points to the secretariat and prevented access into the building.
The Wike faction had announced in a notice on Monday, that it planned to hold its Board of Trustees (BoT) and National Executive Committee (NEC) meetings at the secretariat.
Signs of growing tension were noticed late Monday evening when the two rival Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) factions insisted on scheduling counter meetings for Tuesday at the party secretariat even as the newly elected PDP National Chairman, Barrister Kabiru Turaki, SAN, petitioned the police and asked for protection for the success of his group's meeting.
Announcing the decision of his faction to hold the inaugural meeting of its National Working Committee (NWC) at the National Secretariat, Turaki, who spoke with journalists at the Federal Capital Territory Police Command Headquarters, said he informed the Commissioner of Police, Mr.Miller Dantawaye, ahead of the meeting to provide proper security for the attendees.
“We came here to have an interface with the Commissioner of Police regarding our inaugural NWC meeting, to which we have invited our governors, our National Assembly members and our founding fathers," Turaki explained.
Turaki declared that the FCT Minister and his loyalists have been expelled and have ceased to be members of the PDP, pointing out that their expulsion was properly ratified by the just-concluded national convention of the PDP held in Ibadan, Oyo State.
According to Turaki, “It’s the national convention which expelled them. So, they are no longer members of the party. We have reported their moves to the police, and the police have assured us of adequate protection during our meeting."
The newly elected PDP national chairman reaffirmed his determination to reclaim the secretariat and exercise the mandate of his office.
“We are holding the meeting at the PDP National Secretariat. Any other persons trying to occupy the secretariat would be doing so illegally. We did not invite the police to lock up our secretariat.
“We will go there and defend our lives, our property, and our party. We are prepared to lay down our lives to defend our party,” Turaki concluded.
However, as the situation deteriorated, the Police fired teargas to disperse the crowd that gathered when members of the Makinde faction also arrived at the National Secretariat and attempted to forcefully gain entrance into the building.
At the middle of the chaos, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, arrived the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) secretariat to participate in the emergency meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) and Board of Trustees (BoT) of his faction, organised by embattled National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu.
The Wike faction, chaired by Abdulrahman Mohammed, held its BoT meeting at 11 a.m., with the NEC scheduled for 2 p.m. at the same venue. The group emphasised that attendance was mandatory, noting that “crucial matters” would be addressed during the sessions.
Heavy security presence was provided within and outside the PDP National Secretariat premises, and the choatic situation forced the Makinde faction to postpone its planned meeting until Wednesday, November 19, 2015.
PDP crisis deepens: Wike group retaliates, suspends Makinde, Bala Mohammed, Bode George, Kabiru Tanimu among others.
From Cyril Mbah, Abuja
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leadership crisis got messier on Tuesday after the faction loyal to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Minister, Barr. Nyesom Wike, expelled principal officers of the rival faction including the Oyo state Governor, Seyi Makinde, Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, elder statesman, Chief Bode George and the newly elected National Chairman, Barr. Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN, among others.
The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the faction also approved the expulsion of Board of Trustees Chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara, Deputy National Chairman (South), Taofeek Arapaja and others, for alleged anti-party activities and ordered the dissolution of PDP state executive council in Bauchi, Oyo, Zamfara, Yobe, Lagos, Edo, and Ekiti states.
The faction's Acting National Chairman Alhaji Mohammed Abdulrahman, who presented the memo for the expulsion of Makinde and others stated that the action became necessary because the affected members disregarded court judgements and went ahead with a National Convention, adding that the action put the PDP in disrepute.
According to the communique circulated to newsmen on Tuesday after it was read by Senator Samuel Anyanwu: “The National Executive Committee (NEC) met on 18 November 2025 to address recent developments affecting the unity, stability, and constitutional order of our Party. At a time when Nigerians look to the PDP for leadership, NEC convened to uphold truth, justice, discipline, and respect for the rule of law.
"NEC expressed deep concern over the actions of some members who violated subsisting court orders by organizing and attending a purported and unauthorized convention. This act triggered confusion, factionalisation, and the defection of governors and legislators nationwide.
“NEC reaffirmed that the PDP draws its legitimacy from strict adherence to its Constitution and that of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, not from impunity.
“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.
“NEC further resolved that Chief Ali Odefa must refund all salaries and allowances collected after his expulsion on 12 December 2024. These actions are taken to preserve order and discipline within the Party. NEC also ratified Hon. Chidiebere Egwu Goodluck as Acting National Vice Chairman (South East).
“NEC ratified the dissolution of State Excos in Bauchi, Oyo, Zamfara, Yobe, Lagos and Ekiti. The NWC is directed to constitute caretaker committees and begin fresh congresses immediately while the Edo State Exco led by Barr. Nosa Ogieva has been approved.
“NEC directed Deputies in all National Working Committee positions now vacant owing to expulsion to assume the substantive positions in acting capacity and function as NWC members.
“NEC also formally ratified the appointment of Alhaji Mohammed Abdulrahman, as the Acting National Chairman of the party.
“NEC directed the legal team and NWC to commence immediate constitutional action to recover seats of all elected officials who defected from the PDP, in line with Sections 68(1)(g) and 109(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution.
“NEC approved a Party-wide reconciliation initiative to heal divisions and rebuild trust, while ensuring that reconciliation does not undermine discipline. A nationwide membership audit and revalidation will begin ahead of the 2027 elections.
“NEC acknowledged the anxieties among members but assures the Party faithful that these decisions are aimed at stabilising and strengthening the PDP.
“The NEC affirms that the era of indiscipline is over. The PDP will not bow to lawlessness or personal ambition.
“With unity, discipline, and renewed purpose, the PDP will rebuild stronger and restore public confidence ahead of the next electoral cycle.”
In their opening remarks, the BoT Chairman, Senator Mao Ohuabunwa and Acting National Chairman, Alhaji Mohammed Abdulrahman urged the party members to remain steadfast, expressing confidence that the PDP will surmount its problems.
On Saturday, the faction loyal to the Governor Makinde expelled Wike, former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose; Senator Samuel Anyanwu; former National Legal Adviser of the party, Kamaldeen Adeyemi Ajibade (SAN); Austin Nwachukwu, Senator Mao Ohuabunwa; George Turner and Umar Bature.
PDP leadership crisis: MCE warns politicians to stop mis-using Police, abusing state power...Urges Nigerians to join MCE to save democracy.
From Cyril Mbah, Abuja.
A politucal pressure group, known as the Movement for Credible Elections (MCE) has condemned in the strongest terms, the alleged reckless deployment of the Nigeria Police Force as political weapons in the orchestrated chaos that unfolded at the National Secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja on Tuesday.
In a statement signed by Comrade
Olawale Okunniyi, the Head of Secretariat, the Movement for Credible Elections (MCE) pointed out that the disturbing scenes of police officers openly taking sides in a political dispute between the newly elected PDP National Chairman, Barr. Tanimu Turaki, SAN, and the faction led by the sacked Acting National Chairman, Abdulrahman Mohammed—widely known to be aligned with the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, represented a dangerous descent into institutional abuse.
"It is unheard of and indeed unacceptable, that the Nigeria Police will queue behind political actors to physically confront one another at any party secretariat.
"This appalling misconduct mirrors the disorderly behaviour recently seen in the viral video of the FCT Minister’s altercation with a military officer, where police personnel were seen charging at soldiers guarding a disputed property in Abuja. These incidents collectively portray a pattern of executive lawlessness that threatens Nigeria’s already stressed fragile democracy.
"MCE warns that the brazen politicisation of the police and law enforcement agents poses a grave threat to the democratic future of Nigeria and undermines public confidence ahead of the 2027 general elections. No democracy can survive when security institutions become extensions of powerful political interests rather than guardians of law and order.
"We therefore call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to immediately call his Minister, Nyesom Wike, to order and restore professionalism and neutrality within the security agencies. Nigeria cannot afford a descent into executive impunity and disorder driven by personal political battles.
"The present misguided power tussle within the ruling class has clearly put democracy in Nigeria under attack and serious threat of destabilization and chaos.
"To this end, we urge all Nigerians to rise and join the MCE in protecting our Democracy and Institutions like the police. Order must be restored and we must all say no to executive lawlessness and rascality of the Nigerian ruling class," the statement concluded.
Turaki takes over PDP Secretariat, urges Tinubu to call Wike to order, vows to defend democracy.
From Cyril Mbah, Abuja.
Newly elected National Chairman of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, Barrister Kabiru Tanimu Turaki took over the Wadata House National Secretariat of the PDP late evening on Tuesday after members of the Wike-led faction of the party were flushed out by police personnel from the FCT Police Command.
Turaki immediately addressed party stakeholders including Bauch State Governor, Mohammed and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde in attendance and the media challenging the authority of ministers to act as if they are above the law.
Addressing the gathering, Turaki appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to call the FCT Minister Nyesom Wike to order stating that the conduct of the Minister has become a matter of public concern.
While stating that enough is enough, Turaki said that but for the maturity and restraint shown by the Makinde faction of the PDP, there would have been avoidable blood shed at the party secretariat.
He called on foreign countries to reign in on the Federal Government and the ruling All Progressives Congress and prevent them from subverting the nation's democracy with acts of impunity and misuse of security personnel.
Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has strongly condemned the call for foreign invasion of Nigeria by the new factional Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Tanimu Turaki.
The APC observed that while addressing stakehokders and the press on Tuesday over the crisis ravaging the PDP, Turaki had called on foreign powers to intervene in Nigeria to save the country from alleged "Christian genocide" and to protect democracy.
While describing Turaki's call for foreign invasion of Nigeria as reckless and unpatriotic, in a statement signed by Barrister Felix Morka, CON, National Publicity Secretary, the
APC said that it was more than funny for "a man declared National Chairman barely 72 hours ago by a faction of a deeply fractured party, to look and sound so desperate, and at his wit's end, confused, incoherent, and grossly lacking in stamina and capacity to manage his party's crisis.
SPC said, "Nigerians expected that Turaki would set himself on an urgent peace-building mission to bring his party's warring factions together in dialogue towards finding possible pathways to peace and reconciliation. Instead, Turaki's first official act as factional chairman was his call for foreign invasion of Nigeria as a solution to the self-inflicted internal crisis of his PDP. That is as shameless as it is a dangerous threat to national security and sovereignty.
"Under the PDP's 16 years in power, with its ruthless subversion of opposition parties, there was never a call for foreign invasion of Nigeria as a solution to crisis within opposition parties of that era. Turaki's call is not only an admission of the party's incapacity to manage its internal contradictions, it must be taken as a final certification of the PDP's demise.
"We trust the international community to dismiss the PDP's disgraceful and unpatriotic call as a pitiful distraction from the failure of its internal democracy and embarrassing disintegration. The heightened desperation of the PDP and other opposition leaders is now clear for all to see.
"Turaki's call shows how far they are willing to go, even to the extent of actively seeking destructive intervention of foreign powers on Nigerian soil in order to serve their sinister political agenda.
"We urge Nigerians to stand firm in support of our great Party, and the visionary leadership of President Bola Tinubu as we continue the arduous task of building progress and prosperity in all areas of our national life," the APC statement concluded.
PDP salutes Nigerians for their support in resisting attack by anti-democratic forces... Petitions International Community
From Cyril Mbah, Abuja
The newly elected National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), led by the National Chairman, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki has saluted Nigerians and all members of the party for their solidarity with the PDP in its struggle against alleged tyranny and attempt by undemocratic elements to hijack the party's National Secretariat.
In a statement issued on Tuesday evening by Comrade Ini Ememobong, the National Publicity Secretary of the
party saud the "support, courage and resilience demonstrated by Nigerians as our party resisted and triumphed over state-backed aggression further confirms the PDP as the party of choice for Nigerians as we march to take over power in 2027.
The statement reads in full: "Nigerians celebrated when the National Chairman, accompanied by the Governors of Bauchi and Oyo States, Sen. Bala Mohammed and Engr. Seyi Makinde arrived at the National Secretariat of our Party for the inaugural meeting of the new executive elected at the successful National Convention in Ibadan, Oyo State Capital
"However, upon arrival, compromised personnel of the Nigeria Police Force and thugs reportedly recruited by the expelled former National Secretary of the Party, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu and apparently endorsed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, who was also expelled from our party, barricaded the entrance and attempted to prevent our leaders from accessing the premises.
"Without any provocation, they fired tear-gas cannisters at the governors, NWC members, party leaders and peaceful supporters. This reckless action triggered a stampede and resulted in multiple injuries.
"They fired over 200 canisters at unarmed and harmless citizens who had gathered to witness a lawful party meeting.
"Despite these acts of aggression, party supporters and Nigerians present, stayed firm and courageous, insisting that the right leadership of the party must be allowed to run the party without external influence. In the end, they prevailed and the NWC members had access to the National Secretariat.
"For the avoidance of doubt, this struggle transcends the PDP. It is about the survival of electoral democracy in Nigeria, a system that depends fundamentally on the existence of a vibrant and independent opposition. This attack on opposition under the authority of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu constitutes a direct threat to the survival of our democracy.
"When opposition is suppressed, the core democratic principles of institutionalised uncertainty disappears, reducing elections to mere uneventful events with predetermined outcomes.
"Electoral authoritarianism and expansionist disposition of the ruling party destroyed previous republics, and contemporarily we are witnessing the dangerous return of weak institutions, compromised security agencies, and an over-zealous ruling party in this Republic.
"We therefore call on all democracy-loving nations, institutions, and individuals to rise in unison and unequivocally condemn this brazen assault on democratic freedom in Nigeria.
"The PDP, as the leading opposition party poised to take over power in 2027, remains resolute and unwavering in its commitment to defend our democracy and the wellbeing of all Nigerians.
"We urge security agencies not to yield themselves as tools in the hands of oppressors but to protect democracy and ensure security of Nigerians at all times. They should also focus more on combating insurgency, banditry and widespread insecurity instead of facilitating attacks on opposition parties.
"This NWC reassures Nigerians that the PDP will continue to resist every attempt antidemocratic agents set out to derail the party and democracy.
Nigeria’s democracy must endure," the statement concluded.
