The Nyesom Wike-backed faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has explained why it did not access the party’s national secretariat at Wadata Plaza, Abuja, on Monday, citing ongoing administrative and security processes by the police.
The faction dismissed claims that the Nigeria Police Force declined its request to reopen the secretariat, insisting that the delay was procedural and temporary.
Speaking in an interview with The PUNCH, the National Publicity Secretary of the National Caretaker Committee, Jungudo Mohammed, said reports suggesting that the police turned down their request were inaccurate.
“I am not aware that the police declined our request, and I do not believe that is true. The police are the appropriate authority to confirm why the secretariat has not yet been opened, and we cannot force them,” Mohammed said.
According to him, the police were still carrying out administrative and security processes before taking final action.
“They are still carrying out their administrative and security processes before taking final action. However, we are certain that the secretariat will be reopened.
“The police must open the secretariat because they are required to comply with the court order. The closure resulted from disagreements within the party over who constitutes the genuine leadership, but that matter has already been settled by the court,” he added.
Mohammed stressed that the Federal High Court ruling had resolved the leadership dispute and that law enforcement agencies were expected to act accordingly.
“Therefore, the police are expected to reopen the secretariat to allow for the lawful activities and business of the political party.
“It is not true that the police declined our request; what we know is that they intend to reopen it once their internal processes are concluded,” he said.
When asked about possible next steps if the police failed to reopen the headquarters, Mohammed maintained that the faction would remain law-abiding.
“We are law-abiding people and leaders, and we will continue to engage the police respectfully to understand any delays and address any concerns they may have.
“We will not resort to violence or unlawful actions. The police are a law-enforcement agency and must comply with court orders, and we are confident it will not escalate to any conflict,” he stated.
He added that while no definite date had been fixed for reopening, the faction remained optimistic.
“The exact date for reopening is not yet known because administrative processes sometimes face delays, even after tentative timelines are given. Nonetheless, once those processes are completed soon, we remain optimistic that the secretariat will be reopened.”
The development follows heightened tensions between the Wike-backed camp and the Tanimu Turaki (SAN)-led National Working Committee.
While the Wike-backed group had insisted it would proceed with reopening and taking over the headquarters, the Turaki camp – reportedly backed by Governors Seyi Makinde, Bala Mohammed, Dauda Lawal, and Ahmadu Fintiri – warned that the police would bear responsibility for any breakdown of law and order at the secretariat.
On January 30, 2026, a Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan nullified the PDP National Convention held on November 15, 2025, and barred Turaki (SAN) and others elected at the convention from parading themselves as national officers of the party.
Prior to the judgment, PDP governors had endorsed the Ibadan convention, which produced Turaki and members of the NWC for a four-year tenure.
Before the court ruling, PDP governors had overseen a leadership transition from former Chairman Umar Damagum to Turaki ahead of Damagum’s tenure expiration on December 9.
However, on December 8, the Wike-aligned camp constituted a 13-member caretaker committee, appointing Abdulrahman Mohammed as acting national chairman and Samuel Anyanwu as acting national secretary, with a 60-day mandate.
Attempts by both factions to convene meetings at Wadata Plaza on November 18, 2025, degenerated into violence, prompting the police to seal the headquarters, which has remained under lock and key for nearly three months.
Following the Ibadan court ruling in favour of the Wike faction, the party pledged to conduct a fresh convention to elect new officials.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) subsequently invited the Wike-backed faction to represent the PDP in line with the court order.
Anyanwu had earlier announced that Wadata Plaza would reopen on Monday for party activities, a move fiercely opposed by the Turaki-led NWC.
