Heavy Security at PDP Headquarters as Rival Factions Plot Parallel Meetings

A heavy security presence on Tuesday enveloped the national headquarters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja as two rival factions prepared to hold parallel meetings, heightening tensions within the opposition party.

Security operatives barricaded major sections around the Wadata Plaza headquarters following conflicting claims to the party’s leadership by the Samuel Anyanwu–led National Working Committee (NWC) and the Turaki Hassan-led faction, both insisting on their authority to convene official meetings.

The Anyanwu-led NWC arrived early at the party secretariat, where Samuel Anyanwu maintained that he remains the PDP’s duly elected national secretary until his tenure expires in December.

He proceeded to operate from his office despite the escalating leadership tussle.

When confronted with questions over the heavy security deployment, Anyanwu confirmed that he was responsible for inviting the personnel.

He explained that it is the PDP’s long-standing tradition to request security reinforcement whenever high-level meetings are expected, especially when tensions are high.

According to him, the security agents were positioned to maintain order and to prevent what he described as “intruders” from disrupting the meeting a direct reference to the Turaki-led executive, which had simultaneously announced its intention to convene its own session at the same venue.

The development underscores the deepening leadership crisis within the PDP, as both factions continue to assert legitimacy despite ongoing efforts by stakeholders to broker peace.

As of the time of filing this report, both groups were still holding their respective meetings under tight security, while party supporters and staff watched anxiously to see how the standoff would unfold.