Crisis erupts as Wike, Bala storm PDP national Secretariat

Crisis on Tuesday erupted at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national secretariat, as the Taminu Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC) and that of factional acting National Chairman, Abdulrahman Mohammed, clashed.

Our correspondent reports that the factional acting chairman, Mohammed is backed by the Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike.

Our correspondent also reports that the situation degenerated when Gov. Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, the PDP Governors Forum Chairman, and Seyi Makinde of Oyo arrived at the party secretariat.

Mohammed and Makinde had arrived at the party secretariat at about 10:45 am, but the main gates of the secretariat were pad locked, prompting them to access the premises of the party, leaving their motorcades behind.

Wike later arrived the party secretariat at about 11:15 a.m., and was blocked by the governors’ motorcade already in front of the party secretariat trying to gain access to the premises.

However, the minister was able to gain access to the premises when security operatives started firing teargas to disperse party members and others including journalists, and political thugs already within the secretariat.

Ishiaku Sharu, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations), FCT command, later came and ordered Gov. Mohammed and his group to leave the party secretariat premises.

Mohammed however said that they would only leave if Wike and every other person also leaves, but went back inside the NWC hall when they were told a meeting was ongoing in the hall.

At the time of filling this report the governors and others are still within the premises of the party, while Wike was yet to come out of his car parked in front of the building.

Our correspondent reports that the Bala led faction of the PDP had on Saturday at the Ibadan expelled Wike and some others from the party.