Tension has continued to rise within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as two rival factions prepare to hold separate meetings today, Tuesday, at the party’s National Secretariat, Wadata Plaza, in Abuja. The development has sparked fears of a possible confrontation as both groups insist they will use the same facility.
The crisis, which has been building for weeks, pits the newly elected leadership of the party under Dr. Kabiru Tanimu Turaki against a faction loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike. The Wike-aligned members were recently expelled by the party, but they have continued to dispute the decision and maintain that they remain legitimate officials.
The tension intensified on Monday when members of the Wike-led faction announced that they would be holding an emergency meeting at the National Executive Council (NEC) Hall inside the party’s secretariat. The announcement was made by Samuel Anyanwu, who continues to refer to himself as the factional National Secretary of the PDP, despite his recent expulsion.
Anyanwu scheduled the meeting less than 48 hours after the party’s disciplinary committee confirmed disciplinary action against members loyal to the former Rivers State governor. The expulsion followed months of internal disputes, public disagreements, and accusations of anti-party activities.
The Wike camp has repeatedly argued that the sanctions were illegal and politically motivated. Their decision to convene an emergency meeting appears to be an attempt to demonstrate that they still control significant structures within the party.
In a surprising twist, Dr. Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, who was elected National Chairman at the PDP National Elective Convention held recently in Ibadan, announced that his own faction would also hold its inaugural National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting today—and in the same NEC Hall.
Turaki revealed this while addressing journalists in Abuja on Monday evening, shortly after submitting a petition at the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters in Garki. The petition sought security protection against the expelled members whom he accused of attempting to destabilise the party and forcefully take over the secretariat.
According to Turaki, “the party will hold its inaugural National Executive Committee meeting tomorrow, November 18, at the party’s national secretariat, Wadata Plaza, Abuja.” He insisted that he and his team would not be intimidated and vowed that “nothing will stop him and his colleagues from meeting tomorrow at the office.”
The move by both factions to schedule simultaneous meetings in the same hall has alarmed party members and security agencies. The PDP National Secretariat, Wadata Plaza, has been at the centre of several leadership battles over the years, but the current dispute appears to be one of the most intense yet.
Party insiders say the fight is essentially a struggle for dominance between the mainstream PDP led by Turaki and the Wike-backed group that claims to represent a “reform movement” within the party. The Wike camp has significant influence, especially in parts of the South-South, while the Turaki leadership enjoys the backing of many party elders and the convention delegates who elected them.
The crisis in the PDP has been building since the 2023 general elections, where internal divisions cost the party crucial votes. The disagreements intensified after Wike accepted a ministerial appointment in the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government, a move many PDP leaders viewed as disloyal.
Turaki’s decision to petition the police suggests that he fears the situation could escalate. By notifying law enforcement authorities, his camp appears to be seeking official protection to prevent the Wike faction from entering the secretariat or disrupting activities.
A senior PDP official, who asked not to be named, said the party leadership is worried that allowing both sides to proceed without mediation could lead to a physical showdown. “It is clear that both factions want to show strength, and none of them is willing to step down. We are hoping the security agencies will prevent anything embarrassing,” the official said.
The PDP, once Nigeria’s longest-ruling party, has faced a series of internal conflicts since losing the presidency in 2015. Leadership tussles, factional disputes, defections, and court battles have weakened the party’s ability to function as a united opposition.
The emergence of competing factions—one led by Turaki and the other aligned with Wike—reflects deeper divisions over the future direction of the party ahead of the 2027 elections. Many party members believe the PDP must rebuild its structures and unify ahead of the next general election, but the current crisis suggests that reconciliation remains distant.
As both factions prepare for their parallel meetings at Wadata Plaza today, many Nigerians are watching to see how the drama unfolds. There are concerns about possible clashes between supporters, disruptions to activities at the secretariat, and further damage to the party’s public image.
For now, both sides remain defiant. The Wike-led faction insists it has the right to meet at the NEC Hall, while the Turaki leadership says it is the legitimate authority of the PDP and will not be pushed aside.
