A dispute occurred at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national secretariat in Wadata, Abuja, on Tuesday as the Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC) and the faction led by acting national chairman Abdulrahman Mohammed confronted each other.
The faction led by Mr Mohammed is supported by the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike.
The situation escalated when Bauchi State Governor and PDP Governors Forum chairperson Bala Mohammed and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, arrived at the secretariat around 10:45 a.m.
The main gates of the secretariat were locked, prompting them to access the premises without their motorcades.
As the governors and their team attempted to enter the National Executive Committee (NEC) hall, supporters of one faction fired tear gas.
Security operatives followed with additional tear gas to disperse party members, journalists and others present.
The governors later entered the premises with their vehicles.
Wike arrived at the secretariat around 11:15 a.m., blocking the governors’ motorcade at the front of the building.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations) of the FCT, Ishiaku Sharu, instructed the governors and their group to leave the premises.
Bala Mohammed stated that they would only leave if Wike and others also left, but later returned to the NEC hall when informed a meeting was ongoing.
At the time of filing this report, the governors and other officials remained inside the secretariat, while Wike had not exited his vehicle.
On Saturday, the Bala-led faction expelled Wike and some others from the party during a meeting in Ibadan.
