The faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) loyal to Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on Tuesday took control of the party’s national secretariat, effectively locking out the camp loyal to Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde.

The Wike-led faction, under the leadership of National Chairman Abdulrahman Mohammed, stormed the secretariat at 9:35 a.m., a development preceded by a notice on Monday announcing plans to hold Board of Trustees (BoT) and National Executive Committee (NEC) meetings at the party’s headquarters.

The group was escorted by heavily armed police personnel who were stationed at entry points and other strategic positions around the secretariat.

The Makinde-aligned faction, which elected Mr. Kabiru Turaki as National Chairman during the last convention in Ibadan, reportedly sought police protection on Monday to hold its inaugural meeting of the National Working Committee (NWC). However, as of the time of filing this report, no member of the Turaki-led NWC had arrived at the secretariat.

Speaking to journalists after meeting with the FCT Commissioner of Police, Miller Dantawaye, Turaki said his group was “ready to defend the party with their lives.”

The standoff marks a fresh chapter in the ongoing power tussle within the PDP, with party members and observers now watching closely for the next move from both camps.

Details of developments in the party’s secretariat are still emerging.