Plans by a caretaker committee backed by Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike to reopen the Peoples Democratic Party’s national secretariat in Abuja have raised concerns over possible clashes, following earlier confrontations at the site.
The faction said it would take over the PDP secretariat at Wadata Plaza on Monday with police support, citing a Federal High Court judgment in Ibadan. The announcement has intensified a long-running leadership crisis within Nigeria’s main opposition party.
Samuel Anyanwu, national secretary of the Wike-backed faction, made the declaration Thursday after a closed-door meeting at the Independent National Electoral Commission headquarters in Abuja.
The dispute pits a 13-member caretaker committee aligned with Wike against a rival faction led by Tanimu Turaki, a senior advocate of Nigeria, and supported by several PDP governors, including Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed.
Turaki’s group claims legitimacy based on a PDP national convention held in Ibadan on Nov. 15, 2025. That convention, however, was nullified by a Federal High Court ruling in Ibadan, which the caretaker committee says remains binding despite an appeal.
Previous attempts by both factions to access the Wadata Plaza secretariat have resulted in clashes and police intervention.
Jogudo Mohammed, publicity secretary of the caretaker committee, said police had been directed to reopen the secretariat in compliance with the court judgment.
“By Monday, Feb. 9, we expect the office to be opened for party activities,” Mohammed said. He added that fumigation and cleanup would begin immediately due to the prolonged closure of the building.
He said the sale of nomination forms for elective positions ahead of the party’s March convention would commence Tuesday at the secretariat.
Mohammed emphasized that filing an appeal does not automatically stay the execution of a court judgment.
“The judgment remains in full force unless set aside by a superior court,” he said, warning that any attempt by restrained party officials to disrupt activities could amount to contempt of court.
A senior member of the caretaker committee, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said security agencies, including INEC, the police and the Department of State Services, had been served certified copies of the court ruling.
“The barricades will be removed and normal activities will resume,” the source said, adding that the Turaki-led National Working Committee was no longer recognized by law.
The Turaki faction urged restraint, warning against what it described as self-help. PDP National Publicity Secretary Ini Ememobong said the matter remains before both the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal.
“Whatever happens tomorrow, the responsibility will be on the police,” Ememobong said, citing concerns about potential violence or damage to property.
Former PDP National Vice Chairman for the South West, Eddy Olafeso, said the party remained hopeful the Court of Appeal would resolve the crisis.
“This will not be the end of the PDP,” Olafeso said. “We believe justice will ultimately prevail and provide relief to members committed to keeping the party alive.”
