Supporters of the two PDP groups clashed at the party’s headquarters, with police firing teargas to disperse them.
Violence broke out at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) headquarters in Abuja, forcing police to fire teargas to disperse supporters amid an ongoing leadership tussle between rival factions of the party.
Chaos broke out at Wadata Plaza as Governor Seyi Makinde, Bala Mohammed, and the Turaki-led executive arrived, triggering clashes with police and supporters of Senator Anyanwu’s faction who tried to block their entry.
The FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has also arrived at Wadata Plaza but is yet to alight from his car, where he has remained for over 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, Governors Seyi Makinde and Bala Mohammed are still at the premises. The two governors briefed journalists, recounting their ordeal, including the teargas fired by police and the resistance they faced from supporters of Senator Anyanwu’s faction.
Channels Television earlier reported that heavy security was deployed to the PDP national headquarters in Abuja as two rival factions, each claiming authentic leadership of the party, prepare to hold separate meetings at the same location.
Anyanwu–led NWC first arrived at the PDP national headquarters, with Anyanwu insisting he remains the party’s national secretary until his tenure expires in December and settling into his office despite the brewing leadership dispute.
Supporters of the two PDP groups clashed at the party’s headquarters, with police firing teargas to disperse them.
When asked whether he invited the security operatives who had barricaded major sections outside the premises, Anyanwu confirmed that he did.
He explained that it is the PDP’s usual practice to call in security personnel whenever a meeting of such magnitude is scheduled, in order to maintain law and order.
He added that the security personnel were also on standby to deal with any “intruders,” a remark clearly directed at the Turaki-led exco, which had also announced plans to hold its own meeting at the Wadata Plaza headquarters.
