The internal conflict within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) erupted into a physical confrontation in Abuja today, Tuesday, November 18, 2025, as rival factions led by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and the newly elected leadership fought for control of the party’s national headquarters.
The crisis, fueled by conflicting National Executive Committee (NEC) meetings scheduled by both camps, led to chaos at the Wadata Plaza secretariat, culminating in the deployment of teargas by security forces.
Direct Confrontation at Wadata Plaza
Tensions escalated dramatically when FCT Minister Nyesom Wike arrived at the secretariat simultaneously with governors backing the new leadership, including Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed. Reports indicate a heated altercation and a physical standoff over access, with Makinde and Mohammed attempting to block Wike’s convoy from entering the premises. Police officers ultimately intervened, using tear gas to disperse the surging crowds of officials and supporters.
The dramatic clash follows a deeply contested National Convention held in Ibadan just days ago, where a new National Working Committee (NWC) led by Dr. Kabiru Turaki was elected. Critically, the convention overwhelmingly ratified the expulsion of key Wike loyalists, including Wike himself, former Governor Ayo Fayose, and factional National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu.
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In a show of defiance, Anyanwu and the Wike-aligned faction rejected the expulsion, moving swiftly to convene a parallel, emergency NEC and Board of Trustees (BoT) meeting at the same Abuja secretariat, asserting their continued legitimacy.
The dual claim to the party’s leadership and the physical fight over the national secretariat underscore the PDP’s deepest internal schism ahead of the 2027 general elections. The Makinde-Turaki camp insists that the Wike faction has no legal standing after their expulsion, while the Wike camp views the Ibadan convention and subsequent expulsions as invalid due to ongoing court challenges.
The political infighting over the control of the party structure signals a desperate, high-stakes battle for the soul of the nation’s main opposition party, with today’s events in Abuja marking a violent peak in the protracted crisis.
