The Seizure at Wadata Plaza
A dramatic showdown unfolded at the national secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja on Monday, as the faction loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, stormed Wadata Plaza and declared Mohammed Abdulrahman as the new Acting National Chairman.
“This is how Ayu’s crisis began. Damagum will suffer the same fate.”
— Ayodele Fayose, Former Ekiti State Governor
Chanting solidarity songs and waving banners bearing Wike’s image, supporters demanded that the National Working Committee (NWC) led by Umar Damagum vacate the premises “immediately.”
By midday, the Abdulrahman-led bloc had seized the Chairman’s office, effectively removing the Damagum leadership from the building.
Security operatives were swiftly deployed to the area to forestall a violent clash as rival groups confronted each other across barricaded entry points.
Political Aftershocks and Deepening Fault Lines
The Abuja takeover caps months of tension inside the PDP, a party once regarded as Africa’s largest political family but now torn between Wike’s reformist faction and loyalists of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
“We are ready to work in the interest of our dear party,”
— Mohammed Abdulrahman, Acting PDP National Chairman
Last week, Abdulrahman was announced as acting chairman after Damagum and several top officials — including the National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, and Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade — were suspended for alleged misconduct.
In a counter move, Damagum’s camp branded the decision “illegal,” but on Monday, Wike’s men made good on their threat to “reclaim” the secretariat.
“The PDP must be rescued from hijackers,” shouted one protester. “We are here to defend the soul of the party.”
Former Ekiti Governor Ayodele Fayose added fuel to the storm, declaring that Damagum “will go the way of Iyorchia Ayu,” the ex-chairman forced out in 2024.
“The PDP needs a leader who can bring everyone together again,” Fayose said. “Abdulrahman must rescue the party’s dwindling image and reposition it for relevance.”
Impact Snapshots — Security Lockdown, Political Realignment
- Security Clampdown: Anti-riot police sealed all entrances to the Wadata Plaza, with eyewitnesses confirming the presence of armoured vehicles and roadblocks stretching to the National Mosque junction.
- Factional Control: The Abdulrahman team has now taken physical possession of key offices and communication channels of the PDP, declaring itself the legitimate leadership.
- Governors’ Rebellion: Sources within the Oyo bloc confirmed that Governor Seyi Makinde and other “G5-aligned” governors are regrouping to challenge the Wike-led faction, possibly shifting the convention venue to Ibadan.
- Court Intrigue: A Federal High Court injunction halting the PDP convention hangs over the power tussle, with legal fireworks expected to dominate the next phase.
— Ayodele Fayose, Former Ekiti State Governor.
Party in Disarray, Political Capital at Stake
The turmoil leaves the PDP on the brink of collapse just 18 months before the 2027 elections. Analysts warn that continued infighting could hand the ruling APC a free run at national dominance.
Donors and long-time financiers are said to be freezing campaign contributions until the leadership question is resolved.
One insider described the mood bluntly: “Without a unified structure, no candidate will risk investing in a party tearing itself apart.”
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