The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national headquarters in Abuja is experiencing increased tension as two opposing factions claiming leadership of the party have pushed to hold concurrent meetings at the same location.
On Tuesday, heavily armed security personnel blocked off large areas of Wadata Plaza in anticipation of confrontations between supporters of Senator Samuel Anyanwu and the recently elected National Working Committee, headed by Tanimu Turaki.
On Tuesday morning, the first people to arrive at the secretariat were members of the National Working Committee, which is led by Anyanwu.
Shortly after taking office, Anyanwu told reporters that he would continue to serve as the party’s substantive National Secretary until December, emphasizing that neither a leadership announcement nor the outcome of the convention could render his position void.
Insisting that due process had not been followed, he dismissed allegations that the Turaki group had expelled him.
Anyanwu affirmed that he had invited the security guards stationed outside the building in response to inquiries.
He claims that whenever significant party gatherings are planned, the PDP routinely asks security services to be there.
In what was generally seen as a warning to the Turaki-led exco, which had also called an emergency meeting at the same national headquarters, he added that the security personnel were also ready to deal with any “intruders.”
On Monday, the Turaki-led leadership sent a letter to the police informing them of what they claimed were preparations by expelled officers to interfere with party secretariat operations.
