The ongoing crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) worsened on Tuesday as security operatives used teargas to clear Wadata Plaza, the PDP National Secretariat, in Abuja.
The operatives, comprising personnel of the Mobile Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the Department of State Services (DSS), arrived at the secretariat as early as 5 a.m. to secure the premises.
But a group loyal to Nyesom Wike and Samuel Anyanwu, who were said to have been expelled by the party, took over the secretariat at about 8:00 a.m.
Samuel Anyanwu, National Secretary of the Wike group, arrived at about 8:05 a.m. and immediately began making arrangements for a meeting of the Board of Trustees (BoT).
Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), arrived at about 11:10 a.m. to attend the BoT meeting.
Moments after his arrival, security operatives began firing teargas canisters to disperse people around the premises.
BusinessDay gathered that the action was taken to prevent pro-Turaki supporters, backing Tanimu Turaki, the newly elected National Chairman, from organising protests or accessing the premises.
Recall that following a resolution at the party’s national convention in Ibadan last weekend, the PDP announced the expulsion of Wike and Anyanwu, alongside others, for alleged anti-party activities.
The decision was, however, rejected by Governors Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa and Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State.
The Wike group, which had earlier boycotted the Ibadan convention, condemned their expulsion and quickly regrouped.
In an attempt to take control of the party structures, they convened meetings of the BoT and the National Executive Committee (NEC) for Tuesday at the secretariat.
Read also: Turaki seeks police protection ahead of PDP NWC inaugural meeting
Similarly, the newly elected members of the National Working Committee (NWC) also scheduled their meeting for today at the secretariat.
The new NWC, led by Tanimu Turaki as National Chairman, had on Monday visited the Garki Area Command of the Nigeria Police Force to request protection for the venue during their meeting.
As of the time of filing this report, the police had cleared the plaza.
Members of the PDP Press Corps also vacated the area for safety.
