A deepening internal crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has led to a lawsuit filed by the Kabiru Turaki-led faction against the Inspector-General of Police and the Nigeria Police Force. The suit, filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeks an order to compel the police to unseal and vacate the PDP’s national secretariat, as well as all other party offices across the country.

The PDP national secretariat was sealed in November following violent clashes between two rival factions of the party. The clashes occurred after both factions scheduled meetings at the headquarters on the same day, prompting police intervention. The police sealed the premises, locking and cordoning it off with barbed wire, and reportedly deployed tear gas.

The Turaki-led faction is seeking a mandatory injunction to direct the police to remove all barricades and withdraw from the party’s offices without delay. The application argues that the police acted without lawful authority and that their actions amount to an unlawful occupation of PDP property. The plaintiffs, including Turaki and the chairman of the PDP’s Board of Trustees, Senator Adolphus Wabara, contend that they are principal officers charged with the party’s administration and management.

The PDP held its elective national convention in Ibadan in November, where new officers, including Turaki as national chairman, were elected. However, the Wike-aligned faction rejected the convention, arguing that it breached existing court orders. The party’s national secretariat was sealed shortly after, and the Turaki-led National Working Committee was unable to hold its postponed inaugural meeting at the secretariat.

The prolonged closure of the secretariat has severely disrupted the party’s operations, including administrative coordination, policy formulation, and preparations for future elections. The plaintiffs argue that the police, as an institution established under the Nigeria Police Act 2020, must not act in a partisan manner. They urge the court to grant the application, arguing that the balance of convenience favors the PDP and that monetary compensation would not adequately remedy the damage if the reliefs are refused.

The lawsuit highlights the ongoing power struggle within the PDP and the role of law enforcement in the party’s internal conflicts. The court’s decision will have significant implications for the party’s operations and its ability to function effectively. The case is pending, and the outcome will be closely watched by party members and observers alike.