A major crisis is brewing within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Rival factions, loyal to Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike, have scheduled parallel National Executive Committee (NEC) meetings. These sessions are set for Tuesday at the party’s national secretariat, Wadata Plaza, Abuja.

Wike’s Faction Convenes Meetings

Despite their announced expulsion from the party, Wike’s loyalists moved forward. They issued a notice for an emergency NEC and Board of Trustees (BoT) meeting. This notice was released from the party headquarters.

Senator Samuel Anyanwu, a former National Secretary, signed the notice. It invited members to a BoT meeting at 11 am. A NEC meeting was slated for 2 pm. Anyanwu insisted these sessions were mandatory. He stated they would address “crucial matters.”

The communication was titled “Invitation to Emergency 103rd National Executive Committee Meeting.” It directly challenged the legitimacy of the Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC).

Turaki’s Camp Warns of Disruption

In response, newly elected National Chairman Tanimu Turaki led his NWC members to the Nigeria Police Force headquarters on Monday. He warned of an alleged plot by Anyanwu’s group. Turaki claimed they intended to forcibly disrupt party activities.

“We met with the Commissioner of Police of the FCT,” Turaki explained. “This was regarding the meeting we plan for tomorrow. It will be the inaugural meeting of our National Working Committee.”

Turaki emphasized that those purporting to act in the party’s name after their expulsion in Ibadan were no longer members. “Next to God, the national convention is the highest authority,” he stated. “Those expelled are no longer members. We have reported their moves to prevent any breach of peace.”

He vowed to personally lead the NWC into the secretariat on Tuesday. He warned that any rival faction attempting to use the premises would be treated as “interlopers.”

Following his police visit, the Turaki-led NWC issued its own notice. It invited stakeholders to an emergency meeting at the same venue.

Reactions and Allegations

Umar Bature, recently expelled as National Organising Secretary, confirmed his attendance at the Anyanwu-convened meeting. He described it as a session on “the state of the party.” Bature dismissed his expulsion as irrelevant.

However, PDP elder statesman Bode George condemned the parallel NEC and BoT meetings as illegal. “He (Anyanwu) has been expelled,” George asserted. “He is trying to create a parallel organ. He should wake up and go to his village.”

A key ally of Governor Makinde countered that Turaki lacked the legitimacy to take control of the secretariat. “Only 16 states participated in their so-called convention,” the source argued. “You cannot elect national officers with delegates from just 16 states.”

The source further alleged anti-party activities by leading figures on both sides. This included Makinde, Wike, and George, during the 2023 general elections.