In an effort to prevent a potential breakdown of law and order, the Nigerian Police Force has taken control of the national secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Wadata Plaza, located in Wuse Zone 5, Abuja.
The move followed a fresh escalation in the internal crisis rocking the main opposition party. By early Monday morning, police officers, including a mobile squad, had surrounded the secretariat and closed its gates to all visitors, only allowing access to regular staff members with valid identification.
The police presence came just hours after a renewed power tussle between two senior party officials – Samuel Anyanwu, the embattled National Secretary of the PDP, and Taofeek Arapaja, the Deputy National Chairman (South).
Both men issued conflicting statements on Sunday, summoning party stakeholders to separate meetings scheduled for Monday, June 30, 2025. While Anyanwu called for an expanded special national caucus meeting, Arapaja maintained that the previously scheduled 100th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting would go on as planned and urged members to disregard Anyanwu’s announcement.
This development further exposes the deepening rift in the PDP leadership as the party continues to battle internal divisions that have weakened its national structure and affected its capacity to operate as a unified opposition.
Party insiders say the struggle between the two factions has been building for months, with unresolved disputes over constitutional roles, succession plans, and power-sharing arrangements fueling the standoff.
Although it remains unclear who specifically called in the police, multiple sources confirmed that the officers arrived at the secretariat as early as 5:00 am on Monday. Eyewitnesses reported a heavy police presence and tension in the area, with armed officers stationed around the complex to deter any attempts by party supporters or rival factions to take control of the building.
As of Monday morning, no official statement had been issued by the police regarding their deployment. However, their action appears aimed at pre-empting a possible confrontation between loyalists of the two party leaders, especially with both groups planning parallel meetings at the same venue.
This isn’t the first time the PDP has witnessed such power tussles. Since losing the presidency in 2015, the party has experienced multiple leadership crises, with legal battles and factional conflicts often stalling efforts to reposition the party for electoral relevance.
Analysts say the timing of this new wave of discord is particularly damaging, given the PDP’s need to consolidate ahead of upcoming off-cycle elections in several states and begin early preparations for the 2027 general elections.
Observers also worry that the ongoing leadership confusion may further erode confidence among party members and the public, and possibly affect the PDP’s ability to present a united front against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
While party officials are yet to resolve the latest face-off between Anyanwu and Arapaja, insiders say negotiations are ongoing behind the scenes to de-escalate tensions and return the party to normal operations.
At the time of filing this report, it remained uncertain whether either of the scheduled meetings – the caucus gathering or the NEC session – would go ahead as planned.
The PDP’s national secretariat is typically the venue for major party decisions and strategic meetings. With police now in control of the facility, the party may need to find an alternative location or postpone the meetings pending a resolution of the dispute.
