Security operatives have taken over the premises of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja.
Arms-wielding men of the Nigeria Police Force and Nigeria Civil Defence and Security Corps (NSCDC) are currently stationed at strategic positions within the premises.
Tempers have been rising since the National Working Committee (NWC) split into two.
While a faction has issued directives on the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting. the order is insisting on an expanded Caucus meeting.
While the acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum, is leading the camp that wants an expanded National Caucus meeting, the other 11 NWC is led by Taofeak Arapaja, Deputy National Chairman South, which is pushing for NEC meeting to take place.
On Sunday night, tempers boiled over, as two senior party officials issued conflicting directives regarding the NEC earlier scheduled for Monday, June 30.
Arapaja, in a press conference held in Abuja on Sunday night, reaffirmed the party’s commitment to holding the 100th NEC meeting as scheduled, asserting that the meeting remains legally binding and unalterable.
Arapaja declared, “For the avoidance of doubt, the National Working Committee (NWC) assures all Party members that the 100th NEC meeting will proceed as scheduled tomorrow, Monday, June 30, 2025, at the NEC Hall of the Wadata Plaza, PDP National Secretariat, Abuja.”
His remark was a direct response to a notice by the party’s national secretary, Sam Anyanwu who stated that the NEC meeting had been replaced with a “Special Expanded National Caucus Meeting ”
Anyanwu’s notice invited a broad range of stakeholders, including former governors, immediate past gubernatorial candidates, ex-NWC members, state chairmen, and PDP National Assembly caucus members, to what was described as a “Special Expanded National Caucus Meeting” at 2:00 p.m. on Monday.
As early as 8.30 am on Monday, no fewer than 70 armed policemen loaded in about 10 trucks took strategic positions around the secretariat where both factions of the the party had scheduled their meetings.
The street leading to the secretariat was barricaded with police trucks.
Scores of youths suspected to be thugs who had surrounded the premises were immediately chased out of the secretariat by the police.(Daily trust)
