Tension in PDP: Security Agents Seal Secretariat Over Leadership Dispute
The leadership crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took a dramatic turn on Monday as security operatives sealed off both the party’s National Secretariat at Wadata Plaza and the Legacy House in Abuja, shortly after Abdulrahman Mohammed assumed office as Acting National Chairman.
Heavily armed police officers stormed the Wadata Plaza headquarters in the early hours of the day, ordering staff and journalists to vacate the premises before locking the gates.
The officers reportedly took strategic positions around the building to prevent any attempt at entry.
Not long after, another detachment of security personnel sealed off the Legacy House in Maitama, headquarters of the PDP’s National Convention Organising Committee, effectively halting all administrative operations at the two major centres of the opposition party.
Journalists who attempted to gain access to Legacy House were turned back by policemen who cited “orders from above” as the reason for the lockdown.
The sudden security clampdown caused panic among staff and members of the party nationwide. It came just hours after Mohammed’s controversial emergence as Acting Chairman, a move that has further widened divisions within the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).
A senior party insider told Vanguard that the heavy police presence was a pre-emptive step to avert violent clashes between rival factions.
Factions Trade Blame Over Leadership Tussle
Mohammed’s takeover, reportedly backed by a bloc within the NWC loyal to a former South-South governor, followed days of tense negotiations and political manoeuvring. His camp accused the previous leadership of high-handedness and poor coordination, while pledging to restore stability and unity within the PDP ahead of the 2027 general elections.
However, loyalists of the suspended leaders have dismissed his emergence as “an illegal coup”, insisting that Umar Damagum remains the authentic Acting Chairman of the PDP.
Tension heightened later in the afternoon when PDP staff at the national secretariat staged a walkout, expressing frustration over the crisis.
The workers, carrying placards, described the situation as “total confusion” and vowed not to return to work until clarity was restored.
As of press time, both Wadata Plaza and Legacy House remained under lock and key, with armed operatives maintaining tight surveillance around the premises.
Sources revealed that loyalists from both factions were holding separate emergency meetings at undisclosed locations in Abuja to deliberate on next steps and possible reconciliation moves.