By Atoyebi Nike
Operatives of the Nigeria Police on Wednesday sealed the PDP National Secretariat at Wadata Plaza, Abuja, following violent clashes between rival party factions.
The confrontation erupted on Tuesday when the Saminu Turaki-led faction clashed with supporters loyal to Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. During the chaos, Governors Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State were reportedly teargassed.
The Wike-aligned National Executive Committee subsequently ratified the expulsion of Governors Makinde, Mohammed, and Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State, alongside former PDP Board of Trustees Chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara; former National Vice Chairman, Chief Bode George; and newly elected National Chairman, Kabiru Turaki.
The tensions followed last Saturday’s disputed PDP national convention in Ibadan, Oyo State, where Wike and several senior party members were suspended over alleged anti-party activities. Both factions arrived at the Abuja secretariat to hold parallel NEC and Board of Trustees meetings, sparking chaos and prompting police intervention.
