Tension Erupts At PDP Secretariat As Anyanwu, Turaki Factions Plan Rival Meetings
Tension heightened on Tuesday at the Wadata Plaza National Secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the factions led by Samuel Anyanwu and Kabiru Taminu Turaki prepared to hold separate meetings at the same venue in a fresh showdown over control of the party.
Security was heavily reinforced around Zone 5, with police officers, DSS operatives, and other security personnel stationed across the Secretariat. Supporters of both factions gathered nearby, drumming, singing, and displaying loyalty as they awaited the unfolding power tussle.
Members invited by the Anyanwu-led faction for its NEC meeting began arriving early. Anyanwu himself got to the Secretariat around 8:50 a.m. and headed straight to his office.
As of 9:27 a.m., loyalists of the Turaki faction had not yet arrived, though there were strong indications they were on their way and preparing to make their presence felt.
Speaking to journalists, Anyanwu explained that he requested the deployment of security personnel, noting that it is a routine precaution whenever the party convenes a NEC meeting due to the large turnout and sensitive nature of the gathering.
He said: “I wrote to the security agencies and I wrote NEC on the 14th of November informing them of the NEC/BoT meeting scheduled for today. I am the National Secretary of the party and my tenure runs till December 8.”
Reacting to reports that the Turaki-led faction planned to hold its own meeting at the Secretariat, he added, “We are going for our meeting and we do not expect any intruder. He is coming to hold a meeting here as what?”
