BREAKING: Tension Rocks PDP Headquarters as Wike, Damagum Factions Battle For Control

Tension gripped Wadata Plaza, the national headquarters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja on Monday, as a faction loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, made a move to take over the secretariat.

The crisis, which has continued to divide the opposition party, took a new turn after the Wike faction announced Muhammed Abdulrahman as Acting National Chairman in place of Umar Damagum, who currently leads the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).

The faction, in a swift counter to recent suspensions by Damagum’s camp, declared that Damagum and other key officials of the party had been suspended.

Abdulrahman Mohammed was thereafter appointed as the Acting National Chairman, a move seen as a direct challenge to the authority of the existing NWC.

Addressing journalists at the FCT office of the PDP before heading to the secretariat, Mohammed said his leadership would work to heal divisions and restore unity within the party.

“We are all aware of the current pitiable state of our glorious party because of the actions and inactions of our leaders and members,” he said.
“From being the ruling party for 16 uninterrupted years to being an opposition party for over 10 years now at the national level, from being a formidable opposition to a now humbled opposition owing to the unexplainable defections of governors, legislators and council chairmen.”

The new factional chairman said he accepted the role “through the mercy of God and the instrumentality of very critical stakeholders” of the PDP.

“I have accepted to become Acting National Chairman at this difficult time through the mercy of God and the support of very critical stakeholders of this party,” Mohammed said.

He pledged to reunite the warring camps, reposition the PDP, and ensure that it functions as a law-abiding political organization.

“My task is to heal the party of its wounds, end factionalisation, and reposition it to once again play its role as a credible opposition,” he added.

Following Mohammed’s declaration, tension rose at the PDP national headquarters when supporters of both the Wike and Damagum factions gathered around the secretariat.

Security operatives swiftly moved in to prevent a possible breakdown of law and order.
At least 10 police Hilux vans were sighted around Wadata Plaza, with heavily armed officers stationed at the gates and adjoining streets.

Police presence reportedly prevented a confrontation between supporters of both camps as the Wike faction attempted to enter the premises to address its loyalists.

The development is the latest episode in the protracted leadership crisis that has rocked the PDP since after the 2023 general elections.

Last week, the Damagum-led NWC suspended the party’s National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, and some officials believed to be loyal to Wike, citing “anti-party activities.”

In retaliation, Wike’s faction announced the suspension of Damagum and replaced him with Abdulrahman Mohammed as acting chairman, deepening the internal crisis.

The escalating confrontation between the two factions threatens to plunge the opposition party into a full-blown split ahead of upcoming governorship elections.

While the Wike camp insists its move is to “rescue” the PDP from stagnation, loyalists of Damagum have dismissed the development as an “illegal takeover attempt.”

As of press time, the police maintained heavy presence at the secretariat to forestall violence, while party elders were reportedly making frantic efforts to restore calm.