Wike-Backed PDP Faction Holds NEC Meeting After Police Unseal Secretariat

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Nigeria is once again at the center of a leadership tussle, with the faction supported by the influential Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, making a significant move by holding its National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting at the party's Wadata Plaza headquarters. This gathering, following the police's unsealing of the secretariat, signals a bold assertion of control by the Wike-aligned group.

The party headquarters had been a scene of conflict since November, with two rival leadership committees laying claim to the party's reins. The situation was further complicated by an Appeal Court ruling that nullified the convention which had established the Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee. This legal development provided the Nyesom Wike-backed faction, led by Abdulrahman Mohammed, the grounds to push forward with their own agenda, including a separate convention held in Abuja.

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unsealed the National Secretariat of our party and aided its takeover and occupation by the agents of the Federal Government and APC apologists, masquerading as PDP members, despite a pending appeal.

However, the situation remains highly contentious. The Turaki-led faction has vehemently accused the police of partisanship, alleging that security operatives facilitated an "unlawful takeover" by "APC apologists" masquerading as PDP members. They argue that this action by the police, potentially based on a lower court ruling that is under appeal, undermines the ongoing judicial process and could render future appellate court judgments meaningless.

From our vantage point, this internal conflict within the PDP highlights the deep divisions and power struggles that continue to plague major Nigerian political parties. While the Wike faction sees this as a legitimate move following a court ruling, the opposing group views it as a politically motivated maneuver. The involvement of the police in unsealing the secretariat and allowing one faction access has only deepened the crisis, raising questions about impartiality and the rule of law in party politics. This episode underscores the challenges of internal democracy and leadership succession within the PDP.

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By their action, they have tampered with the res, and that can render the judgment of the Court of Appeal nugatory, when it is eventually given.