BREAKING: Wadata Plaza On Fire As Governor Bala Mohammed Blocks Wike From PDP National Headquarters [DETAILS]
Tension escalated at the national headquarters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja on Monday after Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State reportedly prevented the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, from gaining access to the secretariat amid deepening internal crisis.
According to party insiders, the confrontation unfolded at Wadata Plaza, where rival factions of the PDP have intensified their battle for control of the party’s leadership.
The latest clash is rooted in the lingering dispute between the camp aligned with newly elected National Chairman Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN)—backed by Governors Bala Mohammed and Seyi Makinde—and another faction believed to be loyal to expelled National Secretary Senator Samuel Anyanwu and Wike’s allies.
Sources said Governor Bala Mohammed arrived at the secretariat with a strong security presence and took control of the premises shortly before Wike attempted to enter the compound. The move was reportedly aimed at preventing any parallel meetings or disruptions as both factions had issued conflicting notices for separate National Executive Committee (NEC) sessions. The standoff quickly created confusion, with eyewitnesses reporting heated exchanges among supporters of both camps. Police officers deployed to the area eventually fired teargas to disperse the swelling crowd as tensions threatened to spill over into violence.
Struggle Over NEC Meeting Sparks Chaos
The drama stemmed from competing claims regarding who has the authority to convene the PDP’s NEC meeting. While the Turaki-led leadership insists it is the only legitimate authority recognized by the party’s constitution, Wike’s camp maintains that ongoing expulsions and suspensions lack due process and should not stand.
Monday’s clash further exposed the deep paralysis within the PDP, which has struggled to recover from its poor performance in the 2023 elections. The inability of the party to maintain a united front has left its structures vulnerable to aggressive takeovers by rival factions.
State vs Federal Security Power Play
One of the most striking moments of the confrontation was when security personnel attached to Governor Bala reportedly overruled or outmaneuvered federal security operatives stationed at the complex, effectively securing the entrance against Wike. The incident underscored how state-backed political forces are increasingly influencing national party disputes.
PDP Crisis Far From Over
With both factions refusing to back down, political analysts warn that the PDP’s internal conflict is moving toward an unpredictable showdown. The scenes at Wadata Plaza reflect a party still struggling to assert coherence, discipline, or strategic direction. As of press time, neither Wike nor Governor Bala Mohammed had issued an official statement on the incident.
