PDP crisis: Pro-Wike faction takes over national secretariat in Abuja

• Damagum, Ologunagba, others absent

• Secrariat sealed, staff, Journalists, others chased out

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Mr Nyesom Wike/embattled National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu has taken full possession of the party’s national secretariat popularly known as ‘Wadata House’ in Abuja.

The factional PDP, under the acting National Chairmanship of Mr Abdulrahman Mohammed, stormed the headquarters of the PDP at exactly 11:15 am on monday with several of his supporters and made his way into the secretariat without any resistance.

Mohammed, who was previously the Vice National Chairman (North Central) of the PDP before being named as the acting National Chairman, arrived the secretariat with some policemen from the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) and went straight to the National Chairman’s office.

Upon assumption of office, the acting National Chairman vowed to reposition the party.

Soon upon resuming office, the National Secretary of the PDP, Senator Anyanwu, received him, after which he took him round the premises.

Speaking with journalists, after gaining access to the office of the National Chairman of the party, Mohammed declared his readiness to heal the party of its wounds and end factionalisation.

He pledged to reposition the party and make it law abiding.

His words, “We are all aware of the current pitiable state of our glorious party because of the actions and inactions of our leaders and members.

“From being the ruling party for 16 uninterrupted years to being an opposition party for over 10 years now at the national level. From being a formidable opposition, to a now humbled opposition owing to the unexplainable, unconscionable defections of Governors, Legislators and Council Chairmen and so on.

“I have accepted to become Acting National Chairman at this difficult time through the mercy of God and the instrumentality of very critical stakeholders of this party.

“My job here as Acting National Chairman is simple. It is important to bring our party back to the people, and Insha Allah (by the grace of God), under my leadership, we shall do that.

“From the ward, local government, State, zonal and federal levels, there is going to be strict adherence to the party constitution.

“This is not time for blame game but time to stick together and reposition PDP.

“I will work with my team and work for the people. We will ensure that within a short period of time, PDP gets to the destination as we pilot it.

“We will heal the party of its wounds and end factionalisation, reposition the party and make it law abiding.

“And to plan an all-inclusive National Convention, and hand over to a properly elected National Working Committee (NWC), after concluding all the outstanding congresses at the Zonal, State, Local Government and Ward levels. Hand over this our beloved party back to her true owners, the Nigerian people.

“I want to assure all PDP faithful’s, critical stakeholders, and Nigerians at large that a new dawn has come and with it the Renaissance of the PDP.

“I can not do this seemingly difficult job alone, I will need all your support, prayers, and genuine commitment to join hands on lifting our party the PDP upwards”, he declared.

Continuing, he said, “Consultations are already ongoing, and in due course, we will have our NEC meeting.”

In his brief remarks, Senator Anyanwu, congratulated the new acting national chairman, describing his emergence as a collective decision of the NWC of the party, saying,

His words, “We cannot afford to have a vacuum hence his emergence and we are going to work with him.

“We will also have a meeting to be able to forge ahead, and we are going to cooperate with him”.

The take-over however witnessed a mild drama as some angry staff at the PDP national secretariat, who had earlier mobilized to drag the embattled National Secretary, Anyanwu out of the secretariat, were dispersed with cannisters of tear gas.

Two of the staff were reported ed to have been injured in the process.

Anyanwu was almost prevented from entering his office by a section of the staff until intervention came from his supporters.

Reports had it that the Damagum-led faction of the PDP had initially planned to address journalists at the party’s national headquarters. This was however shelved at the last moment obviously to avoid confrontation among the two groups, that could lead to injuries or death.

However, the national secretariat was placed under lock and key shortly after the acting National Chairman left.

The staff, Journalists and others within the secretariat were swiftly ordered to vacate the premises and remove all cars parked inside before being locked.