Supporters of the Nyesom Wike-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have taken over the streets surrounding the party’s National Secretariat at Wadata Plaza, Wuse, Zone 5, Abuja.
The protesters, largely composed of women and youth groups, carried placards with messages targeting the PDP National Chairman, Mr Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN. Some of the inscriptions included: “No to Turaki” and “Turaki must go.”
Turaki, a former Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, was elected PDP National Chairman at a disputed convention on Saturday, which was boycotted by the Wike-led faction. Both camps had announced plans to hold National Executive Committee (NEC) meetings at the party secretariat on Tuesday.
By 9:45 am on Tuesday, the Wike faction, led by the sacked Acting National Chairman, Abdulrahman Mohammed, had taken control of the secretariat.
They were accompanied by a large contingent of heavily armed police personnel, who positioned themselves along the adjoining streets and within the secretariat building.
At the time of filing the report, no members of the Turaki-led faction had arrived at the party headquarters.
