The internal crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) escalated on Monday as rival factions loyal to Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and FCT Minister Nyesom Wike announced parallel National Executive Committee (NEC) meetings for Tuesday at the party’s national secretariat in Wadata Plaza, Abuja.
This development follows Saturday’s disputed national convention in Ibadan, which elected a new National Working Committee (NWC) and led to the expulsion of several of Wike’s top allies.
In response, Wike’s supporters released a notice on Monday calling for an emergency NEC and Board of Trustees (BoT) meeting at the headquarters. The notice, signed by former National Secretary Senator Samuel Anyanwu, scheduled the BoT meeting for 11 a.m. and the NEC meeting for 2 p.m., emphasizing the sessions as mandatory and critical. The communication, titled “Invitation to Emergency 103rd National Executive Committee Meeting,” directly challenged the legitimacy of the Turaki-led NWC.
Meanwhile, the newly elected National Chairman, Tanimu Turaki, and his NWC visited the FCT Police Command on Monday, citing a potential plot by Anyanwu’s faction to disrupt party activities.
Turaki stated, “We came to interface with the Commissioner of Police regarding tomorrow’s inaugural meeting of our National Working Committee. Those claiming to act on behalf of the party after their expulsion in Ibadan are no longer members.” He added that the national convention is the highest authority in the party next to God and warned that anyone attempting to use the party secretariat without authorization would be treated as an “interloper.”
Following the police visit, the Turaki-led NWC issued its own notice inviting stakeholders to an emergency meeting at the same venue, further intensifying the standoff.
The situation raises concerns over potential clashes at the secretariat, with many calling for law enforcement intervention to maintain peace.
