ABUJA — The national headquarters of Nigeria’s main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), remains a fortified no-go zone, its gates sealed by police for an 83rd consecutive day as rival factions wage a bitter war for control.
The protracted standoff at Wadata Plaza in Abuja underscores a paralyzing internal crisis, with two leadership camps—one backed by party governors and another supported by Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike—operating from exile while trading threats and legal maneuvering.
Failed Takeover Bid Deepens Deadlock
Tensions flared last week when the Wike-backed National Caretaker Committee, led by Abdulrahman Mohammed, announced plans to reclaim the secretariat on Monday. That move failed to materialize.
Upon visiting the complex, our correspondent found police barricades reinforced and the surrounding road blocked. Jungudo Haruna Mohammed, spokesman for the Caretaker Committee, stated the group was awaiting formal police clearance.
“We are waiting for the police to conclude their administrative processes,” Mohammed said. “The office has been locked for some time and needs to be cleaned. So, it is definitely not possible to get into the office today.”
He asserted his faction holds a favorable court judgment and warned the rival group against attempting to repeat the November violence that triggered the lockdown.
Governors’ Camp Vows Counter-Move
The faction recognized by the PDP Governors’ Forum and led by Dr. Tanimu Turaki has pledged to legally resist any attempted takeover. A source within this camp told Daily Trust they are prepared to resume at Wadata Plaza immediately if police open the doors.
“Granting access to one faction would amount to the police taking sides,” the source argued, insisting the matter remains sub judice. “They will not allow the Wike camp to take over the place outside the law.”
The secretariat was first sealed on November 19 following a violent clash between supporters of the two camps, which involved teargas and injuries. The police intervention was meant to forestall further bloodshed, but has resulted in a prolonged administrative freeze.
INEC Maintains Neutral Stance
Amid the chaos, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has distanced itself from the factional claims. INEC’s Deputy Director of Publicity, Wilfred Osilama Ifogah, clarified that the commission invites parties as entities, not specific factions.
“Invites are sent to the party, not to individuals,” Ifogah stated. “As far as the party is concerned, we are not sure who comes. It’s just the party that sends people.”
This neutral position leaves the PDP’s internal legitimacy contest unresolved. With each faction citing different court rulings and political backing, the police-enforced stalemate at Wadata Plaza has become the most visible symbol of a party struggling to govern itself, let alone pose a unified opposition front.
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