Tension as Turaki, Wike Factions schedule Separate Meetings at the secretariat

The struggle for control of the Peoples Democratic Party’s national secretariat in Abuja entered a tense phase on Tuesday as two rival factions prepared to hold separate meetings at the same venue. The clash involves the group led by newly elected National Chairman, Tanimu Turaki, and the faction loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

The confrontation began after Turaki announced that the new National Working Committee would hold its first meeting at the Wadata Plaza headquarters. At the same time, the Wike-aligned faction fixed emergency Board of Trustees and National Executive Committee sessions in the same building. Both sides claim the legal right to use the facility and control party direction.

Ahead of the gathering, Turaki met the Commissioner of Police in the Federal Capital Territory and notified the command of his plan to resume activities at the secretariat. He said the leadership wanted the police to be aware of its intention to return to the headquarters after the convention held in Ibadan. He also explained that the committee he leads invited governors, lawmakers, BoT members, state chairmen, and founding figures to the inaugural session.

Turaki noted that several notices for BoT and NEC meetings were circulating online from members he described as expelled after the Ibadan convention. He told the police that these individuals no longer have authority to summon any meeting on behalf of the party. He insisted that the convention is the party’s top decision-making platform and that the status of those removed had already been settled.

He said the party wanted to avoid trouble on Tuesday but would not abandon its headquarters. He also stated that those occupying the building without approval from the current leadership were acting without right. Turaki added that the PDP would defend its presence at the secretariat within the law and expected security officials to make sure there was no disorder. He further stated that the National Working Committee would arrive at the secretariat at 10 a.m. and that he would lead the team personally.

The Commissioner of Police, according to Turaki, assured the group that security would be provided to prevent conflict and allow the meeting to hold.

Meanwhile, the faction loyal to Wike released its own schedule for BoT and NEC meetings, with the BoT set for 11 a.m. and the NEC for 2 p.m. The expelled National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, issued the notice and urged members to attend, saying the meetings would address important issues affecting the party.

As the two camps prepared for the day, former Niger State Governor, Muazu Babangida Aliyu, weighed in on the deepening rift. He compared the expulsion of several members to an attempt to remove a growth harmful to the party. Aliyu said Nigeria cannot afford a system where only one party dominates and argued that losing strong opposition would affect the country’s diversity. He warned that some governors had previously left the PDP under questionable circumstances, and the party must confront such issues.

Turaki also spoke on reconciliation in his first interview after emerging as national chairman. He said the PDP must rebuild unity and connect with members who felt wronged or sidelined. He stated that the party was ready to apologise to those who deserved it and that he was willing to humble himself to achieve peace. However, he stressed that reconciliation would not include people who constantly attack the party or work against it.

He insisted that the parallel leadership claiming authority had no legitimacy because those making such claims were already removed from office. Turaki said the PDP would extend peace to members who want stability but would not tolerate individuals who continue to challenge the structure of the party.

As both factions prepare to arrive at the same secretariat at different times, party members and political observers expect heavy police presence to prevent a breakdown of order. The struggle for control of Wadata Plaza shows no signs of ending soon, and Tuesday’s meetings may determine which faction gains the upper hand in the ongoing battle for the PDP’s future.