The police have fired warning fuming tear gas at chaos envelopes the national headquarters of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja on Tuesday.
The security personnel were trying to stop clashes between pro-Nyesom Wike loyalists and those of the newly elected national chairman Taanimu Turaki, SAN.
The clashes started Turesday morning when members of the faction loyal to Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike stormed the Wadata House headquarters of the party and engaged the National Working Committee (NWC) elected in Ibadan, Oyo State capital.
The pro-Wike faction led by its National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu, on Monday fixed two meetings – that of its Board of Trustees and NWC – at the secretariat.
They were at the secretariat when members of the Taminu Turaki faction arrived the headquarters but were stopped from entering the complex.
Governors Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State and his Oyo State counterpart, Seyi Makinde used their security to forced their ways in, but as other members of the faction attempted to enter the secretariat, security operatives fired gunshots and teargas to disperse them, thus leading many to seek safety.
The situation at the PDP secretariat as at 11:56 am was very tense with heavily armed police men scattered all over the premises with the presence of many of the secretariat staff and members of both factions.
Arise TV correspondents quoted the Turaki as saying he and his fellow NWC members would stay put at the secretariat.
He had earlier in the morning addressed a press conference during which he said that some people in civil dress fired teargas at their face.
Anyanwu told journalists before the arrival of the Turaki faction that the security beef up was meant to prevent breakdown of law and order, adding that his faction would hold the meetings of both the Board of Trustees (BoT) and the National Executive Committee (NEC).
Supporters of the Wike-led faction comprise largely women and youth groups with placards reading “No to Turaki,” “Turaki must go” at the complex
Turaki, a former Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, was elected as the National Chairman of the PDP on Saturday, boycotted by the Wike-led faction.
On Monday, both camps announced that their executive meetings will take place at the party’s secretariat on Tuesday.
Security operatives had been deployed at n strategic positions along the adjoining streets linking the Secretariat and the edifice itself.
No member of the Kabiru-led exco has arrived at the party secretariat as at the time of filing this report.
