The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike’s faction of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), on Monday, convened its first National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting at the party’s national headquarters in Abuja following the unsealing of the secretariat by the police.
New Telegraph reports that the meeting took place at the Wadata Plaza headquarters, which had been shut since November after a violent confrontation between rival leadership groups within the party.
A video shared on X by Wike’s media aide, Lere Olayinka, captured the Minister arriving at the venue alongside party elders and representatives from various states.
Recalls that the leadership dispute between the Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC) and a caretaker committee headed by Abdulrahman Mohammed intensified with both factions claiming legitimacy.
In March, the Court of Appeal nullified the Ibadan convention that produced the Turaki-led leadership, a ruling the Mohammed-led faction—backed by Wike—relied on to organise a separate convention in Abuja.
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Monday’s NEC meeting was expected to draw key figures aligned with the Mohammed faction, including former Senate President Bukola Saraki and former Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu.
Meanwhile, tensions escalated further after the Turaki-led faction accused the police of facilitating what it described as an illegal takeover of the party’s secretariat.
In a statement issued by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, the faction alleged that security agencies acted in favour of political interests.
“Unsealed the National Secretariat of our party and aided its takeover and occupation by the agents of the Federal Government and APC apologists, masquerading as PDP members, despite a pending appeal.”
The statement also criticised the police for allegedly interfering in an ongoing legal process, referencing a ruling by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which has since been appealed.
“By their action, they have tampered with the res, and that can render the judgment of the Court of Appeal nugatory, when it is eventually given,” the statement said, describing the situation as “most shameful.”
The development underscores the deepening internal divisions within the PDP as rival factions continue to battle for control of the party structure ahead of future elections.
