Wike camp holds first NEC meeting after police reopen PDP secretariat

On Monday in Abuja, a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, held its first National Executive Committee meeting at the party’s national secretariat after the police reopened the building.

The meeting took place at Wadata Plaza shortly after security operatives unsealed the premises, which had been shut since November due to a leadership dispute within the party.

The secretariat was earlier closed following a clash between two rival groups claiming control of the party structure. One faction was led by Tanimu Turaki, while another caretaker group was headed by Abdulrahman Mohammed. The disagreement over leadership created tension and led to the shutdown of the party headquarters.

A recent judgment by the Court of Appeal nullified the Ibadan convention that produced the Turaki-led leadership. Based on that ruling, the Mohammed-led group, which has the backing of Wike, moved ahead to organise its own convention in Abuja and proceed with party activities.

At the meeting, several key members aligned with the Wike-backed faction were present, including former Senate President Bukola Saraki and former Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu. The gathering marked a new step for the group as it tries to take control of party affairs.

However, the Turaki-led faction reacted strongly to the development, accusing the police of aiding an unlawful takeover of the party secretariat. The group claimed that security operatives supported individuals they described as agents working for the ruling government, despite an ongoing appeal in court.

The faction also argued that the action taken by the police could affect the outcome of the case still pending before the Court of Appeal. They expressed dissatisfaction with the conduct of security agencies and insisted that the matter should have been left for the courts to decide fully.

The situation has added to the ongoing crisis within the party, as both sides continue to struggle for control ahead of future political activities.