There was drama on Monday at the national headquarters of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja when Abdulrahman Mohammed, Acting Chairman of the Senator Samuel Anyanwu-led faction, arrived to assume control of the party.
Mohammed, accompanied by his supporters, entered the secretariat under heavy security and was received by the National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu.
Tension rose when some staff members, allegedly supported by outsiders, tried to force Anyanwu out of his office.
Police officers stationed in the building stopped them, using tear gas and minimal force to restore order.
Security agents later asked everyone staff, journalists, and visitors to leave the premises before locking the gates to prevent further chaos.
There were reports that the suspended Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagun, was meeting with his National Working Committee (NWC), but details of the meeting were not yet known.
The PDP crisis deepened after Damagun’s group suspended Senator Anyanwu, who in turn announced the suspension of Damagun and others.
A Federal High Court in Abuja had earlier stopped the party from holding its planned national convention.
After arriving at the secretariat around 11 a.m., Mohammed spoke to journalists, saying his mission was to restore unity and rebuild the PDP ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He said, “Today is a good day for the PDP family. I am here as the Acting National Chairman, and with God’s help, we will bring everyone together again.
The PDP belongs to all of us, not one person. We will work as a team to make the party strong and ready for 2027.”
Mohammed promised to reach out to all stakeholders across the country, adding that the party’s slogan, Power to the People, would continue to guide their actions.
When asked how the PDP plans to challenge the ruling APC despite its internal problems, Mohammed said his faction would follow the party’s constitution.
He added, “We are confident that by 2027, power will return to the PDP. We are reviewing our constitution to strengthen all organs of the party and to ensure proper structures in all states and the FCT for a smooth process.”