Kabiru Turaki on Tuesday formally took charge as the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after a tense standoff at the party’s Wadata Plaza Secretariat in Abuja.
Addressing journalists shortly after entering his office, Turaki said the day’s events were the culmination of hours of confrontation with “renegade members” expelled during the party’s recent national convention in Ibadan.
“For the past seven hours, Nigerians are living witnesses to the struggle we’ve been engaged in with those renegade members of our party that were expelled at our national convention in Ibadan,” Turaki said.
“They came here with armed thugs, which we predicted would disrupt our meetings. But God so kind, we were able to contain them effectively. Now, we have driven them out of the secretariat, and, as you can see, I have entered my office; I have assumed leadership as the elected chairman.”
Earlier, rival factions clashed outside the secretariat as the PDP’s internal leadership crisis intensified. Security operatives were deployed as Samuel Anyanwu and members loyal to the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, vowed not to vacate the premises.
Chaos erupted when Turaki arrived alongside Governors Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, and other newly elected PDP officials. Police fired multiple rounds of teargas as Anyanwu’s supporters attempted to block their entry.
Recounting the confrontation, Turaki said:
“If we had not exercised restraint and controlled our members and leaders, there would have been bloodshed here. We have been tear-gassed; I think more than 50 canisters were shot at us. But we remained relentless and will continue to remain relentless.”
Despite the turmoil, Turaki pledged that the PDP would “continue to defend democracy” and reposition itself.
“I have taken over my office, and the PDP is back on course,” he declared.
A ‘Jamboree’, Says Anyanwu
Reacting to the takeover, Samuel Anyanwu accused the governors of attempting to elevate the PDP Governors’ Forum into a formal organ of the party through constitutional amendment.
He dismissed the Ibadan convention—which expelled him, Minister Wike, former Ekiti governor Ayodele Fayose, and others for alleged anti-party activities—describing it as a “jamboree” and an illegitimate exercise.
The clash at the secretariat comes just days after the convention, which proceeded despite conflicting court rulings—one authorizing the event and another ordering the party to suspend it.
