PDP boils: Bala, Makinde , Wike clash in Abuja power showdown

By Grace Edet

The leadership crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) erupted into a violent confrontation on Tuesday as governors Bala Mohammed of Bauchi and Seyi Makinde of Oyo led a factional takeover attempt at the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja, clashing with supporters of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike.
The standoff, which lasted nearly six hours, saw police firing multiple rounds of tear gas, rival supporters engaging in physical fights, and senior PDP leaders accusing security agencies of aiding one faction against the other.
The conflict was triggered by a dual claim to the party’s leadership. The Bala–Makinde camp had on Monday elected former minister Tanimu Turaki as its National Chairman and requested police protection ahead of its first National Working Committee (NWC) meeting scheduled for Tuesday at Wadata Plaza.
But the rival Wike–Anyawu group simultaneously announced its own NEC and Board of Trustees meetings for the same time and venue, an action Turaki later described as “a deliberate attempt to cause confusion and breach the peace.”

Heavy Security, Hired Thugs and Tension Before Dawn

By 8:00 am, heavy police deployment had cordoned off the PDP headquarters and surrounding buildings, while dozens of suspected hired thugs, some armed with daggers and smoking hemp, lurked in strategic corners.
A small pro-Wike procession displayed banners reading “Turaki Must Go,” while another group chanted against the FCT Minister.

The tension escalated when police fired tear gas to disperse the rival supporters after clashes broke out around the entrance of the secretariat.

‘I Remain National Secretary Till December 8’ — Anyanwu

Speaking earlier, the embattled former National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, dismissed the Ibadan convention of November 15 which expelled him, Wike, and ex-Governor Ayo Fayose.
He described the convention as illegitimate, saying due process was ignored.
“As the national secretary of the party in our constitution, it was very clear that for every convention, the national secretary will state the affairs of the party in the convention,” he said.
Anyanwu added that the individuals who announced his suspension “had no such powers,” insisting that “Damagum was already suspended and has no moral or legal standing to act.”

Governors Storm Secretariat, Confront Bouncers

At about 10:55 am, Bala Mohammed and Seyi Makinde arrived with their supporters, forcing their way through bouncers who attempted to block them.
The move sparked a second wave of tear-gassing as police attempted to disperse the surging crowd.
Members loyal to Turaki later overpowered the bouncers and pushed Wike’s supporters out of the NEC hall—only for Wike to arrive around 11:20 a.m., prompting a fresh cycle of confrontations.

‘We Were Tear-Gassed and Harassed’ — Turaki

Addressing journalists during the chaos, Turaki accused the police of siding with Wike and attacking his members.
“Our serving and former governors are here. Our members of the National Assembly are here. And you have seen how they are now granted access to the minister of the FCT, a person that has been declared a persona non grata in the PDP,” he said.
“They have tear-gassed us and tear-gassed even our governors. Some of our boys, some of our members who have come here to attend meetings have been shot by the police.”
Turaki made an unusual appeal, calling on U.S. President Donald Trump to “save democracy in Nigeria,” and declared that his faction was “ready to lay down their lives” to protect its mandate.

‘We Were Molested Despite Immunity’ — Bala Mohammed

Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed also accused security operatives of taking sides.
“We have been teargassed and molested in spite of our immunity and whatever we have as leaders. It is for the nation to gaze at the kind of democracy we have, the kind of leadership we have,” he said.
He insisted that the individuals backing Wike were “imposters who have been expelled by the convention.”

Wike in Standoff, Stayed in Car for Two Hours

Wike’s arrival triggered the biggest disruption of the day. He remained in his car for over two hours as rival leaders blocked entry to the NEC hall, with police firing more tear gas to clear a path for the minister’s convoy.
Despite multiple appeals, including Bala’s direct request to the police to remove Wike from the premises, the standoff continued until after 2:00 p.m., when police launched another round of tear gas to disperse those still protesting the minister’s presence.

A Crisis With No End in Sight

Today’s dramatic events underline the depth of the PDP’s internal breakdown, with two factions now laying claim to the same headquarters, same leadership, and same mandate—each accusing the other of hijacking the party.
With both sides refusing to back down, the crisis risks pushing the nation’s largest opposition party further into fragmentation ahead of critical national elections.