Calm at Wadata as PDP factions wait for security decision
Calm Reigns at PDP Headquarters Amid Tension over Reopening Plans
By Luminous Jannamike
ABUJA — A tense calm settled Monday around the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national secretariat at Wadata Plaza as factions aligned with the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, awaited a decision from security agencies regarding the reopening of the facility. The premises have been closed for months due to ongoing leadership disputes.
Samuel Anyanwu, acting national secretary of the PDP caretaker committee led by Abdulrahman Mohammed, announced plans to reopen the national headquarters citing favorable court rulings and the dismissal of rival factions’ attempts to force police action. However, opposing groups are contesting the legitimacy of this reopening amidst a fractured party landscape.
The Wadata Plaza complex was sealed by police in November 2025 after violent clashes broke out between rival factions attempting to hold parallel National Executive Committee meetings. Since then, the building has stood as a prominent symbol of the internal conflict ahead of the 2027 general elections.
While police presence remained tight around the complex, no confrontations were reported as of Monday afternoon. The uncertainty loomed over whether authorities would allow access to any faction while related court matters are still unresolved.
“It has come to our attention that some expelled members are attempting to forcibly gain access to our National Secretariat,” said Ini Ememobong, the national publicity secretary for the Kabiru Turaki-led faction.
Ememobong emphasized that the secretariat is currently under judicial review and any attempt to regain entry would be unlawful. “We will employ all legal means to defend our property from trespass,” he stated.
Farida Umar, deputy national publicity secretary of the same faction, echoed these sentiments, asserting that the Wike group has no legal right to reclaim the secretariat while the matter remains before the Court of Appeal.
In contrast, leaders from the Wike-aligned faction argue that recent court decisions and acknowledgment from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) validate their claim to the party’s leadership. They assert that the caretaker committee possesses the authority to resume operations at the headquarters.
“There is now clarity regarding the legitimate National Working Committee, as confirmed by a recent Federal High Court ruling,” a source close to the Wike faction stated. “With this clarity, there should be no reason to keep the Wadata Plaza sealed.”
A security source noted that the priority remains to prevent any forced entry or potential confrontations at the facility. “Security remains tight to neutralize any attempts at unauthorized access,” the source reported.
PDP insiders suggest that political motivations are at play in the ongoing dispute. “This party will not be destroyed; ongoing tensions are driven by personal ambitions rather than the party’s interests,” a party source remarked.
FCT Police spokesperson Josephine Adeh indicated that the command had not received formal communication on plans to unseal the facility. “I have limited information about any plans concerning the PDP secretariat and have not been officially briefed,” she stated.
Control over the national secretariat is critical as it influences administrative authority over party communication, executive recognition, coordination of activities, and overall operational command—factors that will significantly impact the party’s internal alignment and nomination processes leading up to the 2027 elections.
