There was tension at the national headquarters (Wadata Plaza) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday as police officers stormed the secretariat.
Footage of the incident shows officers manhandling and arresting several staff members.
The PDP in its social media platforms condemned the incident, raising the alarm over what it described as an attack in a bid to stop the scheduled meeting.
Amid the standoff, the PDP announced an immediate change in the venue for its scheduled Board of Trustees (BoT) meeting. The meeting, originally set for 10 a.m. at the National Secretariat, has been moved to the Yar’Adua Center in Abuja’s Central Business District.
A notice posted on the party’s official social media platforms reads:
“Special Announcement!
Change of Venue for the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) Meeting.
The Meeting of the Board of Trustees (BoT) Meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), earlier scheduled to hold by 10Am at the Party’s National Secretariat in Abuja has been moved to YarAdua Center, Central Business District, Abuja.
All BOT members are by this notice advised to proceed to the new venue.
Signed:
Management.”
The police action has deepened uncertainty surrounding the PDP’s much-anticipated 100th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, already marred by internal leadership crisis.
The faction loyal to acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, has insisted that the NEC meeting stands postponed. However, a rival camp led by Deputy National Chairman (South), Taofeek Arapaja, maintains that the meeting remains on course.
Additionally, both factions scheduled overlapping meetings for the same day and location. While the Damagum group fixed its expanded caucus meeting for 1 p.m., the Arapaja faction slated the NEC meeting for 2 p.m.
The crisis took another twist last week when the Damagum-led leadership recalled Senator Samuel Anyanwu as National Secretary—a decision quickly rejected by the opposing camp, which insists that Anyanwu’s status remains a matter of contention.