Yesterday, the national secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party in Abuja was closed off because of violent fights between two competing groups of the party the day before.
The PUNCH writes that when our reporter went to Wadata Plaza, police had put up a barbed-wire barrier at the entrance.
Police on the site indicated that the order to seal the building came “from above,” but they didn’t say anything further.
We were unable to get in touch with the Federal Capital Territory Police Command’s spokeswoman since they had not responded our calls or texts at the time this report was filed.
The party problem got worse yesterday when supporters of Turaki, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi, and members of the newly elected PDP executive showed up at the secretariat.
Samuel Anyanwu and his supporters, who are loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom, stood in their way.
The fight got worse very soon. Police used tear gas after Anyanwu’s camp reportedly tried to keep the Turaki group from getting inside.
Before the meeting, both parties said they were right, which caused a deadlock.
After what happened yesterday, Tanimu Turaki, the factional chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), along with governors Seyi Makinde and Bala Mohammed, blamed Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, for starting the trouble.
He also asked the world to pay heed to what he called challenges to Nigeria’s democratic process.
“Democracy is in danger. “Please come and save Nigeria,” Turaki called to all advanced democracies.
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