Police seal PDP National Headquarters in Abuja

Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force have sealed the National Headquarters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at Wadata Plaza, Abuja, as the party’s leadership crisis intensifies.

The action, captured in a video circulating on Wednesday, showed police personnel mounting barbed-wire barricades around the complex. The development follows Tuesday’s violent clashes between factions loyal to Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike.

The crisis escalated after both camps scheduled separate meetings for the same day and venue at the party headquarters.
Governor Makinde’s faction insisted it would “give all it takes” to defend Nigeria’s democracy, vowing not to vacate the premises. Addressing journalists after Tuesday’s confrontation, Makinde said the standoff was not just about the PDP but about “the survival of democracy” in the country. He warned that the turmoil may worsen before it improves but maintained that his group would not back down.

Security operatives later fired tear gas to disperse supporters as tensions surged during attempts by both groups to hold parallel meetings.

In a dramatic escalation, the Wike-led faction later announced the expulsion of several top party figures, including Governors Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), and Dauda Lawal (Zamfara). The faction also dissolved party executives in Oyo, Bauchi, Ekiti, Zamfara, Edo, and Lagos States.

The decisions were reportedly taken during the 103rd National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held at the party’s national secretariat. Others expelled include former Board of Trustees Chairman Senator Adolphus Wabara, Senator Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, and Deputy National Chairman (South) Taofeek Arapaja, among others, over alleged anti-party activities.

Presenting the expulsion memo, Acting National Chairman Alhaji Mohammed Abdulrahman said the affected members had shown disregard for court rulings, actions he claimed had brought the party into disrepute.