Violent chaos erupted at the national headquarters of Nigeria's main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Abuja on Tuesday as rival political factions engaged in brutal physical confrontations that left journalists injured and television equipment destroyed.
Dawn Takeover Sparks Political Confrontation
The political crisis began early in the morning when the faction loyal to Mohammed Abdulrahman seized control of the party secretariat around 7:30 am, effectively locking out supporters of Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde. Makinde's group had recently elected Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN) as the party's National Chairman, setting the stage for the dramatic confrontation.
By 11:00 a.m., the situation escalated dramatically when Governors Bala Mohammed and Seyi Makinde arrived at the Wadata Plaza secretariat with their supporters, intending to assert their faction's authority and escort Turaki into the complex. Meanwhile, the Abdulrahman faction was conducting a Board of Trustees (BoT) meeting inside the building.
Violence Erupts as Thugs Clash
The arrival of the governors triggered immediate pandemonium as thugs from both political camps surged toward the main entrance. Security personnel deployed to the scene responded by firing teargas canisters to disperse the crowd, forcing party members, staff, and journalists to flee in different directions.
The chaotic situation quickly deteriorated into physical violence, with party loyalists engaging in intense fistfights at the gates of the secretariat. Journalists covering the event became unintended casualties of the political violence. Mohammed Baba was reportedly struck on the head, and his television camera was seized and smashed by attackers. Several other media personnel abandoned their expensive equipment as the violence spread uncontrollably.
Political Standoff and International Appeal
Efforts by the FCT Commissioner of Police to mediate and defuse the tense situation proved unsuccessful. Makinde's camp refused to leave the premises unless Nyesom Wike, who was leading the opposing faction, vacated the secretariat first, creating a tense standoff between the two groups.
Amid the turmoil, Turaki's faction announced the postponement of its inaugural National Working Committee (NWC) meeting to Wednesday, November 19. Speaking to journalists, Turaki directly accused the rival faction of orchestrating the violence, stating: "They came armed to fight us, but the police stood up to their responsibility."
Turaki praised the police for their protection but strongly condemned the use of teargas against party members. He made a dramatic appeal for international attention to the crisis, calling specifically on US President Donald Trump and the global community to "come and save democracy in Nigeria." He emphasized that members of his faction were prepared to risk their lives to protect the party's office and mandate.
Meanwhile, the Wike-aligned faction mocked Makinde and Turaki's supporters for their temporary withdrawal, characterizing it as a "retreat from battle" rather than a strategic decision.
The violent standoff highlights the deepening divisions within Nigeria's main opposition party, with both camps claiming legitimacy and control of the party structure. The national secretariat remains under heavy security surveillance as political tensions continue to threaten the stability of Nigeria's democratic process.
