Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has issued a stern warning against elements he accuses of attempting to destroy the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), declaring that the party's governors will no longer tolerate such actions.
Chaos Erupts at PDP National Secretariat
The political tension boiled over on Tuesday at the party's national headquarters in Abuja, where rival factions engaged in a violent confrontation. The chaos left journalists injured, television equipment destroyed, and forced the cancellation of scheduled party meetings.
The conflict began early in the morning when a faction led by Mohammed Abdulrahman took control of the secretariat around 7:30 am, effectively locking out the camp loyal to Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde. This group had recently elected Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN) as the new National Chairman.
The situation escalated dramatically by 11:00 a.m. when Governors Bala Mohammed and Seyi Makinde arrived with their supporters to assert their faction's authority. They attempted to escort Turaki into the complex while the Abdulrahman faction was conducting a Board of Trustees (BoT) meeting inside.
Police Intervention and Governor's Strong Reaction
The arrival of the governors sparked immediate pandemonium as thugs from both camps surged toward the main entrance. Police officers deployed to the scene responded by firing teargas to disperse the crowd, forcing party members, staff, and journalists to flee in various directions.
In reaction to these events, Governor Bala Mohammed, who serves as Chairman of the PDP Governors' Forum, took to his official social media handle on Tuesday to express his strong disapproval.
"As Chairman of the PDP Governors' Forum, I must state clearly: enough is enough," Mohammed declared. "The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) does not belong to any individual; it belongs to Nigerians."
Commitment to Party Integrity and Democracy
Regarding the police blockade of the party's national secretariat, the governor reaffirmed that the PDP Governors' Forum will not stand by and watch the party be dismantled by those who neither understand its founding principles nor respect its future.
He emphasized their full commitment to working with the newly constituted National Working Committee (NWC) to safeguard the national secretariat, uphold internal democracy, and protect the party's integrity.
"We shall do so with unity, strategic coordination, and an unshakable commitment to the rule of law," he asserted. "Let me be clear: the PDP will not be cowed, harassed, or silenced. We have weathered greater storms and emerged stronger. This moment will be no different."
The governor also directed a caution toward the presidency, warning that "it is a dangerous precedent to empower individuals who lack both character and commitment to democratic values, individuals who misuse state power to settle internal political disputes."
He concluded that such actions do not serve the country or the PDP, but rather undermine the very institutions that bind Nigeria's democracy together.
