PDP Moves BoT Meeting After National Secretariat Take Over

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday shifted its Board of Trustees (BoT) meeting from the party’s national headquarters at Wadata Plaza, Abuja, to the Yar’Adua Centre in the Central Business District, following a police takeover of the secretariat.

In an official post on X (formerly Twitter), the party announced:

“The Meeting of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) earlier scheduled to hold by 10am at the Party’s National Secretariat in Abuja has been moved to Yar’Adua Centre, Central Business District, Abuja.”

The PDP strongly criticized the presence of armed officers from the FCT Police Command at its secretariat, describing it as harassment of its BoT members, who were barred from entering the premises. Several members were seen arriving at the Yar’Adua Centre after being denied access to Wadata Plaza.

Former PDP National Secretary, Umar Tsauri, revealed to Channels Television that police officers claimed they were acting on “orders from above” when they prevented BoT members, including Maina Chiroma, from entering.

The situation added tension to an already heated political climate within the party, especially with the PDP’s 100th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting also slated for the same day.

Meanwhile, the FCT Police Command defended its action, stating it deployed officers solely to maintain peace and order. According to spokesperson Josephine Adeh, “At no time was the Secretariat sealed off by the Police.”

Deepening Internal Crisis

This latest development is part of a broader internal crisis plaguing the PDP for years, marked by leadership disputes and repeated postponements of NEC meetings.

Although Acting National Chairman Ambassador Umar Damagum had announced a postponement of the NEC meeting last week, the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) overruled him, insisting the meeting would proceed as planned on Monday, June 30, 2025. The NWC emphasized that only the NEC has the authority to postpone such meetings.

At the heart of the internal strife is the lingering leadership tussle over the position of National Secretary. Both Samuel Anyanwu and Sunday Ude-Okoye claim to hold the role. Damagum recently declared Anyanwu reinstated—a position the NWC contests.

The matter is currently before the courts. Although the Supreme Court ruled on the dispute in March, both parties have interpreted the verdict to support their claims. A fresh hearing on the matter is scheduled for September 22, 2025, at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The PDP’s ongoing leadership battles and court wranglings continue to overshadow its efforts to reposition as Nigeria’s main opposition force ahead of future elections.