By Chika Eze, Abuja
The leadership crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) escalated on Tuesday, as rival factions held parallel Board of Trustees (BoT), National Executive Committee (NEC), and National Working Committee (NWC) meetings at the party’s national secretariat, Wadata Plaza, Abuja.
Trouble began at about 9:35 a.m. when the faction led by its self-declared National Chairman, Abdulrahman Mohammed, stormed the secretariat.
The group had announced on Monday its intention to convene BoT and NEC meetings at the party headquarters.
They arrived in a convoy escorted by truckloads of heavily armed police officers, who took up positions at the gates and strategic points around the premises.
Their presence effectively shut out the faction loyal to Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, which elected Kabiru Turaki (SAN) as National Chairman at the weekend convention in Ibadan.
Turaki had on Monday visited the office of the FCT Commissioner of Police, Miller Dantawaye, seeking security cover to enable his group hold its inaugural NWC meeting.
Speaking after the visit, Turaki vowed that his group was prepared to “defend the party with our lives.”
Read Also: PDP Expels Wike, Anyanwu as Convention Opens in Ibadan
Meanwhile, the faction loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, took full control of the secretariat ahead of its own parallel meetings slated for Tuesday morning.
Security operatives, including personnel of the Mobile Police Force, NSCDC, and DSS, mounted a heavy presence at all entry points and along adjoining roads, aiming to prevent clashes as both factions laid claim to the same venue.
Inside the secretariat, suspended National Secretary Sen. Samuel Anyanwu gained access earlier and began accrediting members ahead of what he described as their 103rd NEC meeting, which commenced before the Turaki faction arrived.
Outside, anti-Turaki protesters brandished placards with inscriptions such as “No to Turaki” and “Turaki Must Go.”
Speaking with journalists before the BoT meeting, Anyanwu dismissed speculations that the security deployment was unusual.
“Anytime we’re having a BoT or NEC meeting, we usually invite security agencies to prevent embarrassment to our members. This is not the first time,” he said.
He added that he had officially notified all security agencies on 14 November 2025 and also wrote to INEC about the scheduled meetings.
“I’m the National Secretary of the party. My office runs until December 8, so I’m performing my constitutional duties,” he said.
On the purported suspension announced at the Ibadan convention, Anyanwu insisted that no valid disciplinary action was taken.
“On what premise are you expelling us? Which convention? I never communicated any notice of convention to INEC. There was no convention anywhere,” he stated.
He argued that any legitimate PDP convention must be monitored by INEC, something he said never happened.
Anyanwu further claimed that “two-thirds of state delegates” were absent from the Ibadan gathering.
“Even the 17 states they claim participated had people picked from the roadside, clothed in PDP uniforms and placed on state podiums,” he alleged.
Both sides continue to assert control, deepening the already volatile struggle for dominance within the opposition party.