Nigeria's main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), descended into violent chaos yesterday as rival factions clashed at the national secretariat in Abuja, raising serious concerns about the future of multi-party democracy in the country.
Chaos and Confrontation at Wadata Plaza
The political crisis turned physical early Tuesday morning when the Abdulrahman-led faction took control of the PDP headquarters in Wuse 5, Abuja, locking out supporters of Governor Seyi Makinde and the faction that elected Kabiru Tanimu Turaki as National Chairman at the controversial Ibadan convention.
At approximately 11:00 a.m., the situation escalated dramatically as the Makinde-Bala Mohammed camp launched what party insiders described as a counter-offensive, storming the secretariat with their newly elected chairman, Turaki, in an attempt to force entry.
The confrontation turned violent when thugs escorting the two governors clashed with security personnel, prompting police to fire multiple rounds of tear gas. Journalists, staff, and party supporters fled in panic as the scene descended into what one senior police officer called a dangerous battlefield.
One journalist, Mohammed Baba, suffered head injuries after thugs believed to be loyal to the Bala Mohammed faction smashed his camera and assaulted him, leaving him bleeding and disoriented.
Mass Expulsions and Factional Meetings
Amid the chaos, the Wike-backed faction held what it described as its 103rd National Executive Committee meeting under heavy police presence. The gathering resulted in the most far-reaching purge in the party's 26-year history.
The faction ratified the expulsion of three incumbent governors: Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), and Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), along with numerous prominent party leaders.
Other high-profile expulsions included:
- Board of Trustees chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara
- Former Deputy National Chairman (South), Taofeek Arapaja
- Former Deputy National Chairman candidate, Olabode George
- Former Minister of Special Duties, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki
The factional NEC also dissolved State Executive Committees in Oyo, Bauchi, Zamfara, Yobe, Lagos, and Ekiti, while affirming the Edo State Exco led by Barrister Nosa Ogieva.
Democracy Under Siege: Widespread Condemnation
The violent scenes prompted immediate condemnation from across the political spectrum, with many warning that Nigeria's democracy faces existential threats.
Newly elected National Chairman Turaki condemned the invasion, warning that democracy was under serious siege in the country. He acknowledged that police had provided security as promised but noted that due to the violence caused by what he called enemies of progress, their inaugural NWC meeting had to be postponed.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) described the development as a clear sign that democracy is under siege in Nigeria. In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC criticized the Tinubu administration for allegedly using violence in its bid to take control of another political party.
The Movement for Credible Elections (MCE) also faulted the deployment of the Nigeria Police Force as a political tool, noting that the use of security operatives to enforce factional battles represented a serious threat to Nigeria's fragile democracy.
Former lawmaker Senator Emmanuel Onwe expressed grave concerns, stating that Nigeria is witnessing the death of a multi-party democratic system and the rise of a de facto one-party state. He revealed that defection incidents have surged from 15 in 2019 to over 180 by September 2025, describing the phenomenon as political cannibalism.
Political Fallout and Way Forward
Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, who chairs the PDP Governors' Forum, declared that enough is enough in a social media post. He reaffirmed that the PDP Governors' Forum would not stand by and watch the party be dismantled by those who neither understand its founding principles nor respect its future.
The factional NEC communique, read by National Secretary Senator Samuel Anyanwu, grounded the expulsions on deliberate violations of the PDP Constitution, including disobedience of court orders and conduct bringing the party into disrepute.
The body directed immediate constitutional action to recover the seats of all defected lawmakers and affirmed Alhaji Mohammed Abdulrahman as Acting National Chairman. It also ordered a nationwide membership audit and revalidation ahead of the 2027 elections.
Yesterday's events underscore the depth of the existential struggle now consuming the PDP, a party once known as Africa's largest political organization, now battling bitter factionalism, defections, and a leadership vacuum that threatens not just the party's future, but Nigeria's democratic stability.
