Abuja, November 3, 2025 – Wadata Plaza, the national secretariat of Nigeria's main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja, descended into pandemonium on Monday as hundreds of supporters loyal to Mohammed Abdulrahman, the party's National Vice Chairman (North Central), stormed the premises in a forceful bid to oust the Umar Iliya Damagum-led National Working Committee (NWC). The protesters, waving placards and chanting solidarity songs, accused Damagum's leadership of gross mismanagement, impunity, and anti-party activities, vowing to "reclaim the party's soul" for what they described as the legitimate faction.
Eyewitnesses reported that the demonstration began around 9 a.m., with crowds gathering at the entrance gates, blocking access roads and demanding that Damagum and his allies vacate immediately. "We are here to take back our party! The era of manipulation and mismanagement is over!" shouted one protester, echoing sentiments shared across multiple reports. The group successfully gained entry into the secretariat, with Abdulrahman himself arriving later to assume office in the National Chairman's suite, flanked by armed security details and jubilant supporters.
This dramatic takeover marks the latest escalation in the PDP's protracted leadership crisis, which has splintered the party into two bitterly opposed camps. The turmoil traces back to late October 2025, when the Damagum-led NWC suspended National Secretary Senator Samuel Anyanwu and National Legal Adviser Kamaldeen Ajibade for one month over allegations of anti-party activities and disobedience to court orders. In a swift counterstroke, a faction aligned with Anyanwu and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike convened a parallel meeting, suspending Damagum, National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba, and several others, before appointing Abdulrahman as Acting National Chairman.
Abdulrahman, addressing journalists at the PDP's FCT mini-office in Wuse District before proceeding to Wadata Plaza, described his emergence as "a divine intervention" to rescue the PDP from decay. "This is a new dawn. We will reposition the party, restore unity, and make it law-abiding ahead of 2027," he declared, unveiling an agenda focused on reconciliation and discipline. His supporters hailed the move as a victory for grassroots members tired of "personalized leadership" that has led to mass defections since the party's ouster from power in 2015.
Tensions peaked as rival Damagum loyalists also mobilized to the secretariat, creating a tense standoff. Heavy security deployment—over 10 police Hilux vans and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) operatives—prevented physical clashes, but the atmosphere remained charged. By afternoon, security forces sealed off both Wadata Plaza and the Legacy House (home to the National Convention Organising Committee) in Maitama, locking out staff and halting operations. PDP workers staged a walkout, brandishing placards reading "Total Confusion" and refusing to resume until the crisis is resolved.
In a bold administrative move, the Abdulrahman faction formally notified the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) via a letter signed by Anyanwu, submitting Abdulrahman's name as the new Acting National Chairman in line with the PDP constitution. The letter urged INEC to recognize the change and update its records accordingly, further legitimizing their claim.
The Damagum camp, absent from the secretariat during the takeover, dismissed the actions as an "illegal coup." Sources close to them insisted that only a national convention—now halted by a Federal High Court injunction—can effect leadership changes. The court order, secured by Wike allies earlier, restrained the party from proceeding with its planned November 15-16 convention in Ibadan until constitutional compliance is ensured.
Political analysts attribute the rift to deeper power struggles involving influential figures like Wike, who has openly clashed with governors such as Seyi Makinde of Oyo State over zonal control and convention zoning. The crisis has weakened the PDP's opposition credentials, with recent defections—including Bayelsa Governor Douye Diri to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)—highlighting internal hemorrhaging.
As night fell, both factions held emergency meetings in undisclosed locations, plotting next steps. Abdulrahman vowed to end "divisions and factionalization," pledging outreach to aggrieved members. However, with security seals in place and no immediate reconciliation in sight, the PDP's turmoil threatens to paralyze its preparations for the 2027 elections, raising questions about the opposition's viability in Nigeria's evolving political landscape.
The incident underscores the fragility of party democracy in Nigeria, where personal ambitions often overshadow institutional processes. Stakeholders, including elders and governors, have called for urgent dialogue, but mutual distrust runs deep. INEC has yet to respond to the factional letter, leaving the leadership vacuum unresolved.
