The national secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party in Abuja was cordoned off on Wednesday after violent clashes broke out between two rival factions of the party the previous day.
When Punch correspondent visited Wadata Plaza, a barbed-wire barricade had been placed across the entrance by police operatives.
Officers at the scene said the directive to seal the premises came “from above,” but provided no further details.
Efforts to reach the spokesperson for the Federal Capital Territory Police Command were unsuccessful, as calls and messages to her line had not been returned at the time of filing this report.
The party crisis worsened on Tuesday when supporters of Turaki, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi, and members of the newly elected PDP executive arrived at the secretariat.
They were confronted by Samuel Anyanwu and his supporters, who are aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
The confrontation escalated quickly. Police fired tear gas after Anyanwu’s camp allegedly attempted to stop the Turaki group from entering the premises.
Both groups claimed legitimacy, leading to a standoff ahead of the meeting.
Following Tuesday’s events, the factional chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Tanimu Turaki, flanked by governors Seyi Makinde and Bala Mohammed, accused Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, of instigating the unrest.
He also called for international attention to what he described as threats to Nigeria’s democratic process.
“Democracy is under threat. I am calling on all advanced democracies to come and save Nigeria,” Turaki said.
Punch
