By Rejoice Peterside, Abuja
There was pandemonium on Tuesday at the national headquarters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja as police fired teargas to disperse supporters of rival factions who clashed during separate meetings scheduled at Wadata Plaza.
Trouble started when two opposing blocs within the PDP the faction loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and the newly constituted National Working Committee (NWC) led by Tanimu Turaki converged on the party headquarters for parallel engagements.
Tensions heightened after the embattled National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, arrived at the complex with members of the Wike-backed faction for their planned Board of Trustees (BoT) and National Executive Committee (NEC) meetings.
Supporters from the two camps soon engaged in heated exchanges, with scuffles breaking out as police officers attempted to keep the groups apart.
The situation quickly spiralled as officers ordered everyone, including party officials and staff, to evacuate the premises. Moments later, the police fired teargas canisters to disperse the crowd, triggering a stampede.
Politicians, journalists, and party workers were seen running in different directions, coughing and shielding their faces from the choking gas. Some fled towards adjoining streets as the confrontation escalated.
Outside the secretariat, supporters from both factions brandished sticks and other objects as confrontations intensified, forcing security operatives to call for additional reinforcements.
By the time calm was restored, tension remained palpable across the area, with both sides trading accusations over who instigated the violence.
The crisis comes amid deepening leadership disputes within the PDP following last weekend’s controversial national convention in Ibadan and renewed power tussles over control of the party’s national secretariat.
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