The faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) loyal to Kabiru Tanimu Turaki has formally rejected the takeover of the party’s national secretariat by a rival group aligned with Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike.
The dispute over the control of Wadata Plaza, the party’s headquarters, escalated after police sealed the facility on November 18, 2025, following clashes between the two factions.
Yesterday, the Wike-aligned group announced that the police had unsealed the secretariat, allowing them to take control of the premises. However, the Turaki faction quickly dismissed the development, accusing law enforcement of partisanship and noting that the ownership dispute remains before the courts.
In a statement, Ini Ememobong, spokesperson for the Turaki faction, alleged that the police had unlawfully aided the Wike camp, describing its members as “agents of the federal government and APC apologists, masquerading as PDP members, despite a pending appeal.”
Ememobong said the court ruling the police claim to be acting upon has already been appealed. He added that the police force, as a party to the case, has been formally served with the appeal and is fully aware of the legal status.
“By their action, they have tampered with the res which could render the judgment of the Court of Appeal nugatory when it is eventually given,” Ememobong said. “It is most shameful that those entrusted with protecting the law are those disobeying the law.”
He further criticized the conduct of the police throughout the crisis, saying, “While it is not surprising that the police is acting in a clearly partisan manner, we were hopeful that they would act differently under the command of the new Inspector General of Police. From the inception of this imbroglio, the officers of the police force have consistently acted in a manner that leaves no one in doubt as to their support for the Wike-backed APC apologists.”
Despite the tensions, Ememobong urged members of his faction to remain peaceful and avoid any actions that could disrupt public order.
“As law-abiding citizens, we admonish our members to continue to maintain peace and not undertake any activity capable of breaching public peace, while we promise to take all necessary steps within the ambit of the law to protect the rights and privileges of the genuine members of the Peoples Democratic Party,” he said.
The faction assured the public that what it called “state-sponsored persecution” would not last, expressing hope for a return to genuine democratic practice in the interest of preserving the republic.