A potential clash is brewing between two factions of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as they prepare to hold separate meetings at the party’s National Secretariat, Wadata Plaza, in Abuja. The meetings, scheduled for Tuesday, come amidst an ongoing power struggle for control of the Secretariat.
The faction led by Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, who was recently elected as the National Chairman of the PDP, has announced an inaugural National Executive meeting at the Secretariat. Turaki made the announcement on Monday evening after submitting a petition to the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters against a rival faction comprising expelled members loyal to Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
The Wike-led faction, which was expelled from the party recently, had earlier scheduled an emergency meeting at the National Executive Council Hall of the National Secretariat. The faction’s National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, announced the meeting just 48 hours after their expulsion. The rival meetings have set the stage for a potential confrontation between the two factions.
The power struggle within the PDP is a result of a deeper divisions within the party. The recent National Elective Convention in Ibadan, which saw Turaki emerge as the new National Chairman, has been disputed by the Wike-led faction. The expelled members claim that the convention was not legitimate and have vowed to challenge the outcome.
As the two factions prepare to meet at the Secretariat, there are concerns about the potential for violence. Turaki has vowed that “nothing will stop” his faction from holding their meeting, while the Wike-led faction is equally determined to assert its claim to the party’s leadership. The Nigeria Police Force has been petitioned to intervene in the matter, and it remains to be seen how the situation will unfold.
The ongoing crisis within the PDP has significant implications for the party’s future and its ability to pose a credible challenge to the ruling party in upcoming elections. As the situation continues to unfold, the party’s leaders will be under pressure to find a resolution that will unite the factions and restore stability to the party. For now, the focus is on the meetings scheduled for Tuesday, which could mark a turning point in the party’s internal power struggle.