Tension Mounts: Police On High Alert As PDP Crisis Over Secretariat Reopening Escalates

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has announced that officers will be deployed to prevent potential violence amid rising tensions over the planned reopening of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national secretariat by the Abdulrahman Mohammed-led caretaker committee on Monday.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The committee, reportedly supported by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, intends to reclaim the Wadata Plaza headquarters months after it was sealed following violent clashes between rival party factions.

Senior officers at the FCT Command told Sunday Punch that, while no formal briefing had been received, police personnel would be stationed at the secretariat and other strategic locations to maintain peace.

Acting National Secretary of the Mohammed-led committee, Samuel Anyanwu, announced on Thursday that the secretariat would resume official activities on Monday. He dismissed claims that ongoing litigation could block the reopening, saying, “There are no legal barriers preventing the caretaker committee from resuming work at the party’s headquarters.”

Turaki-led NWC Rejects Reopening

However, the Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC) has strongly rejected the move, insisting that Anyanwu and his group remain expelled from the PDP and have no authority to act on its behalf.

Speaking with Sunday Punch, the committee’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, said, “They are living in fool’s paradise. The worst form of deceit is self-deceit, where the person knows he is deceiving himself yet continues with gusto. Even INEC, which they claim has recognised them, has denied them. They are indulging in a roller coaster of self-deceit.”

Ememobong also revealed that letters had been sent to both the Inspector-General of Police and the FCT Commissioner of Police, emphasizing that the matter remains under court review and warning against any attempt at “self-help.”

“The case pending before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik was instituted by the expelled members. They cannot resort to self-help until judgment is delivered,” he added, cautioning that reopening the secretariat could constitute contempt of court.

Police Ready to Maintain Law and Order

A senior officer at the FCT Police Command, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that officers would be deployed to prevent a repeat of the November 19 violence that led to the secretariat’s initial closure.

“The command will not stand by and allow a breakdown of peace and order by the party or anyone else. Police will definitely be on the ground,” the officer said. Another added, “There will certainly be men present at the secretariat, though I cannot disclose the exact number of officers to be deployed.”

When contacted, FCT Police Public Relations Officer Josephine Adeh said she had not been briefed on the planned reopening and declined to comment on deployment details. Asked to confirm whether the secretariat was originally sealed by police, she replied, “Yes,” but offered no further details on current plans.