- Amid worsening leadership squabble
Violence, on Tuesday morning, broke out at the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) headquarters in Abuja, forcing police to fire teargas to disperse protesters amid an ongoing leadership tussle between rival factions of the party.
Chaos broke out at Wadata Plaza as governors Seyi Makinde (Oyo State), Bala Mohammed (Bauchi State), and the Turaki-led executive arrived, triggering clashes with police and supporters of Senator Anyanwu’s faction, which tried to block their entry.
The FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, also arrived at Wadata Plaza, and remained for over 30 minutes.
Governors Seyi Makinde and Bala Mohammed also arrived at the premises. The two governors briefed journalists, recounting their ordeal, including the teargas fired by policemen and the resistance they faced from supporters of the Senator Anyanwu’s faction.
Heavy security had been deployed to the PDP national headquarters in Abuja as two rival factions, each claiming authentic leadership of the party, prepare to hold separate meetings at the same location.
Anyanwu–led NWC first arrived at the PDP national headquarters, with Anyanwu insisting he remains the party’s national secretary until his tenure expires in December and settling into his office despite the brewing leadership dispute.
Asked whether he invited the security operatives who had barricaded major sections outside the premises, Anyanwu answered in the affirmative.
He explained that it is the PDP’s usual practice to call in security personnel whenever a meeting of such magnitude is scheduled, in order to maintain law and order.
He added that the security personnel were also on standby to deal with any “intruders,” a remark clearly directed at the Turaki-led exco, which had also announced plans to hold its own meeting at the Wadata Plaza headquarters.
- Media Report