Following a violent clash between rival factions of the main opposition party in Nigeria, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), operatives of the Nigeria Police Force on Wednesday sealed National Secretariat of the partylocated at Wadata Plaza, Abuja.
.Recall that crisis erupted on Tuesday when supporters of the Saminu Turaki-led faction and loyalists of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, confronted each other at the secretariat.
Both factions arrived at the Wadata Plaza headquarters to conduct parallel NEC and Board of Trustees meetings, a move that further heightened tensions.
The confrontation between the two factions escalated into chaos, forcing police officers to fire teargas to disperse them.
The face-off quickly descended into chaos as security operatives struggled to separate supporters from both camps, leading to shouting matches, pushing, and general disorder. The escalating tension prompted the police to shut down the secretariat to restore order and prevent further violence.
During the disturbance, Governors Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State were caught in the teargas while attempting to access the premises.
In the aftermath of the clash, the factional National Executive Committee (NEC) aligned with Wike announced the expulsion of Governors Makinde, Mohammed, and Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State; former Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, Senator Adolphus Wabara; former National Vice Chairman, Chief Bode George; and the newly elected National Chairman, Dr. Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN).
The expulsion followed last Saturday’s PDP national convention in Ibadan, Oyo State, where Wike and ten other party leaders—including former governors, serving lawmakers, and senior stakeholders—were suspended over alleged anti-party activities.
