PDP Crisis Deepens as Damagum Accuses Anyanwu of Violent Invasion of Party Secretariat

|By Chinwendu Nwani

The leadership tussle within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took a disturbing turn as the party’s National Chairman, Umar Damagum, petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, over an alleged violent invasion of the party’s national secretariat by the suspended National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu.

In the petition dated October 3, Damagum claimed that Anyanwu, who is currently suspended, stormed the party headquarters in Abuja with a group of armed thugs in a bid to impose a factional leadership.

According to Damagum, the group—allegedly backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike—attempted to install Abdulrahman Mohammed, the suspended Vice Chairman for the North Central zone, as Acting National Chairman.

“To our utmost surprise and shock, on Monday, November 3, 2025, Senator Anyanwu violently invaded the National Secretariat of our party with thugs mobilized by his aides, Arthur Bruno, Emmanuel Okoronkwo, and Chidiebere Egwu, brandishing dangerous weapons including guns, knives, cutlasses, and sticks,” Damagum wrote.

He alleged that the attackers broke into several offices, assaulted journalists, fired tear gas, and left staff injured. A female staff member reportedly collapsed due to tear gas exposure but was later revived.

Three staff members—Terna Tergba, Cecilia Ukwayi, and Innocent Ezekiel—are said to be receiving treatment in hospital for injuries sustained during the invasion.

Damagum further accused other suspended national officers, including Kamaldeen Ajibade (National Legal Adviser), Okechukwu Osuoha (Deputy Legal Adviser), and Umaru Bature (National Organising Secretary), of complicity in the plot to take over the party’s leadership structure.

The petition urged the police to investigate the incident and bring all those involved to justice, warning that such acts of violence threaten the peace and unity of the PDP.