Chaos erupted on Monday at Wadata Plaza, the national secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as supporters of the faction loyal to Mohammed Abdulrahman, the party’s National Vice Chairman (North Central), stormed the premises in protest.
The protesters, who chanted solidarity songs and waved placards, called for the immediate removal of the National Working Committee (NWC) led by Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum.
They accused the Damagum-led leadership of mismanaging the affairs of the party and vowed to reclaim the secretariat on behalf of the Abdulrahman-led faction.
Bellnews reports that the protest came days after the Abdulrahman faction named him Acting National Chairman, deepening the already tense leadership crisis within the PDP.
Last week, the Damagum-led NWC suspended National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, and Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade, for one month, a decision that further divided the party.
In response, the Anyanwu-led faction announced the suspension of Damagum and members of his NWC, naming Abdulrahman as the new Acting National Chairman in a counter move.
The development has widened the rift within the main opposition party, with both factions now claiming legitimate control of the PDP’s national leadership.
The situation became tense when Abdulrahman’s supporters arrived at the PDP headquarters in Abuja to enforce their declaration.
Policemen and other security personnel were swiftly deployed to prevent a violent clash between rival factions.