The battle for the control of the Peoples Democratic Party took a new twist on Monday in Abuja when loyalists of the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, forcefully took over the party’s National Secretariat, Wadata Plaza, in the absence of governors elected on the party’s platform and their loyalists.
Members of the National Working Committee, led by the party’s National Chairman, Umar Damagum, who have been enjoying the support of the PDP governors, were nowhere near the secretariat when the Wike-backed faction took over on Monday.
It was not clear, as of the time of filing this report, what the PDP Governors’ Forum, led by Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed, intended to do in the interim, with Damagum appearing to have lost out in the power tussle.
However, a PDP chieftain with knowledge of the matter said Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, Bala Mohammed, and the remaining five PDP governors under the platform would fight to reclaim the party from Wike’s allies.
This is a serious situation we’ve found ourselves in as members of the PDP, but I can assure you that the governors will do everything to reclaim the party from those who don’t mean well for it,” the chieftain said on condition of anonymity.
The dramatic takeover led to chaos within the secretariat as some staff members were attacked, prompting the police to swiftly intervene and seal off the building to prevent a further breakdown of law and order.
Upon assuming the office of National Chairman at the party’s secretariat, Abdulrahman Mohammed, backed by Wike, appealed to members for calm, urging them to shun blame games and work together to restore unity and stability within the PDP.
Recall that despite scheduling its National Elective Convention for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State, the PDP remains engulfed in severe internal squabbles.
Wike’s supporters have continued to express dissatisfaction with the leadership of Damagum. Their grievances centre on unresolved crises over the South-South zonal leadership and the control of party structures in Cross River, Akwa Ibom, and Plateau states. Disputes over micro-zoning ahead of the convention have further intensified tensions.
The conflict took a legal turn when the Federal High Court in Abuja, on Friday, issued an interim order halting the convention.
In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025, Justice James Omotosho restrained the PDP from proceeding with the event pending compliance with its constitution, the 1999 Constitution, and the Electoral Act 2022.
The suit was instituted by three aggrieved members — Austin Nwachukwu (Imo State PDP Chairman), Amah Abraham Nnanna (Abia State PDP Chairman), and Turnah Alabh George (Secretary, PDP South-South Zone).
The ruling has further worsened the crisis, creating two opposing camps — one loyal to Damagum and the other to National Vice Chairman (North Central), Abdulrahman Mohammed, who’s now assumed the party’s Acting Chairman position.
On Saturday in Abuja, the Damagum-led NWC, through the National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, announced the suspension of National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu; National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade; Deputy Legal Adviser, Okechukwu Osuoha; and National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature, for 30 days over alleged anti-party activities.
In a counter move, Anyanwu, speaking for the Mohammed-led faction, announced the suspension of Damagum, Ologunagba, National Deputy Chairman (South), Taofeek Arapaja; National Financial Secretary, Daniel Woyenguikoro; National Youth Leader, Sulaiman Kadade; and Deputy National Secretary, Setonji Koshoedo, also for 30 days, citing alleged financial mismanagement and incompetence.
Earlier on Monday, a few minutes after 9am, the Wike-led faction of the PDP headed by Mohammed gathered at the party’s Federal Capital Territory office in Wuse Zone 4, Abuja.
Joining the factional chairman at the FCT PDP office were the Deputy National Youth Leader, Timothy Osadolor; the suspended Deputy National Legal Adviser, Okechukwu Osuoha; and the Anambra and Imo State PDP chairmen.
Surrounded by FCT PDP supporters amid heavy security presence, Mohammed told journalists that he was assuming control of the party’s National Secretariat at Wadata Plaza as the legitimate chairman.
Reading from a speech titled “A New Dawn,” Abdulrahman said, “We are all aware of the current pitiable state of our glorious party because of the actions and inactions of our leaders and members. From being the ruling party for 16 uninterrupted years to being an opposition party for over 10 years now; from being a formidable opposition, we’re now a humbled opposition owing to the unexplainable defections of governors, legislators, and council chairmen, among others.
“I have accepted to become Acting National Chairman at this difficult time through the mercy of God and the instrumentality of critical stakeholders of this party. My job here is to heal the party of its wounds and end factionalisation.”
He also promised to reposition the party, make it law-abiding, plan an all-inclusive national convention, and hand over to a properly elected National Working Committee after concluding all outstanding congresses at all levels.
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