The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) finds itself embroiled in a deepening internal crisis as factions loyal to Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike attempted to seize control of the party's national headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday, November 18, 2025.
Chaos Erupts at PDP Secretariat
Violent clashes erupted at the Wadata Plaza secretariat as police operatives fired teargas to disperse rival groups of supporters engaged in physical confrontations and shouting matches. The confrontation occurred as both the Wike-backed faction and the newly elected national working committee (NWC) led by Kabiru Turaki scheduled parallel meetings at the same venue.
Kabiru Turaki, who assumed office as national chairman amid the standoff, directly accused Wike of sponsoring thugs who wielded cudgels outside the gates and chanted protest songs. Turaki further alleged that police officers provided protection for those responsible for instigating the unrest.
Political Heavyweights Clash
The situation escalated when Samuel Anyanwu, national secretary of the Wike group, arrived at the complex with members of his faction for their planned board of trustees (BoT) and national executive committee (NEC) meetings. Police struggled to maintain order throughout the confrontation, eventually ordering everyone to vacate the compound and deploying teargas to disperse politicians and journalists alike.
In an official statement signed by national publicity secretary Ini Ememobong, the PDP described how compromised personnel of the Nigeria Police Force and allegedly recruited thugs barricaded the entrance when the national chairman arrived accompanied by Governors Bala Mohammed of Bauchi and Seyi Makinde of Oyo State.
PDP Vows to Resist Anti-Democratic Forces
The party's NWC assured Nigerians that the PDP will continue to resist every attempt by anti-democratic agents to derail both the party and democracy itself. The statement emphasized that the party's struggle transcends internal politics, noting that it represents a broader fight for the survival of electoral democracy in Nigeria.
The PDP alleged that police actions triggered a stampede that resulted in multiple injuries, calling on security agencies not to allow themselves to become tools in the hands of what they described as oppressors. Despite the chaos, the party reaffirmed its determination to democratically take over power in the 2027 elections.
The crisis has already claimed casualties within the party ranks, with Abubakar Bawa, chairman of the PDP in Taraba state, resigning from his position and withdrawing his membership from the party. Although Bawa did not provide specific reasons for his decision, party insiders suggest his exit may be linked to the rumoured defection of Governor Agbu Kefas to the APC.
