Calm returned on Monday to the national secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at Wadata Plaza, Abuja, despite rising political tension over attempts by a faction linked to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to reopen the complex after months of closure.
The development followed an announcement by Samuel Anyanwu, acting as national secretary under the Abdulrahman Mohammed-led PDP caretaker committee, that the party headquarters would resume operations based on recent court rulings said to favour the group.
Anyanwu’s camp cited favourable judicial pronouncements and the dismissal of a legal motion filed by rival factions seeking to compel the police to reopen the complex under their control.
However, as of Monday afternoon, the building remained sealed, with security operatives maintaining a strong presence around the premises. No incidents of violence or confrontation were recorded.
The PDP national secretariat has been under police seal since November 2025 after rival factions attempted to hold parallel National Executive Committee (NEC) meetings, leading to scuffles among supporters and the intervention of law enforcement.
The prolonged shutdown has become a symbol of the deepening internal crisis within the opposition party as members remain divided across multiple camps ahead of the 2027 general elections.
While Anyanwu’s faction insists that recent legal victories support its claim to the building, rival groups argue that control of the secretariat must await the final determination of ongoing litigation.
Officials aligned with the Kabiru Turaki-led faction warned that any attempt to reopen or occupy the facility while the matter remains before the courts would amount to self-help and could constitute contempt.
Leaders of the Wike-aligned bloc, however, maintain that recent court pronouncements and recognition by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) have clarified the party’s legitimate leadership, insisting the recognised caretaker committee has the authority to resume operations at the headquarters.
Security sources said authorities are primarily focused on preventing forced entry or confrontation at the facility, while the FCT Police Command noted it had not been formally briefed on any plan to unseal the secretariat.
The situation underscores the continuing leadership dispute within the PDP, with competing factions advancing legal and political claims as the party navigates internal divisions ahead of future electoral contests.
