Internal conflict unfolded on Monday at the national secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Abuja, where a large protest led by supporters of the factional acting National Chairman, Mohammed Abdulrahman, disrupted activities and intensified the ongoing leadership dispute.
The demonstrators, who stormed Wadata Plaza in coordinated groups, sang solidarity songs and insisted that the present National Working Committee under Umar Damagum immediately vacate the premises.
The protest marks the latest twist in a deepening crisis that has split the PDP into rival power blocs.
Tensions rose sharply last week when Abdulrahman was announced as the acting national chairman following the suspension of the National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, and the Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade, for one month.
This development further widened existing rifts and emboldened supporters of the faction loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
In a separate move, Wike’s loyalists convened at another location in Abuja, declaring the Damagum-led NWC suspended and paving the way for Abdulrahman’s faction to assert ownership of the party’s leadership structure.
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Monday’s protest was a direct reflection of this renewed battle for dominance, with protesters accusing the Damagum camp of mismanaging party affairs and undermining internal democracy.
Security operatives were swiftly deployed around the secretariat to manage the swelling crowd and prevent any outbreak of violence.
With both factions laying claim to legitimacy, the party’s headquarters became a flashpoint in what many analysts now describe as one of the most disruptive internal battles in the PDP’s recent history.
Despite the tense atmosphere, Abdulrahman’s faction managed to take physical control of the National Chairman’s office. Addressing journalists shortly after assuming the position, Abdulrahman expressed determination to restore unity and reposition the PDP for future electoral contests.
He stated that his leadership would focus on reconciliation, rebuilding trust, and implementing administrative reforms to strengthen the party’s national outlook.
“We are ready to work in the interest of our dear party,” he assured, promising transparent administration and broader inclusion of party members across different geopolitical zones.
Punch
