By Jeremy Fregene
Contrary to assurances by the Abdulrahman Mohammed-led National Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the party’s national secretariat at Wadata Plaza, Abuja, remained sealed on Monday.
The committee had earlier indicated that the secretariat would be reopened following consultations with electoral authorities and internal party stakeholders. The PDP faction backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, announced the planned reopening after the quarterly meeting of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) with leaders of political parties.
However, checks at the secretariat showed that the facility remained inaccessible, with no sign of administrative or political activities resuming.
A visit to the Wuse Zone 5 complex revealed that the gates were still firmly locked, while large coils of razor wire continued to block the access road and perimeter fence. Police patrol vehicles and armed officers maintained a heavy security presence around the premises, with no visible movement of staff or party officials.
A security operative at the scene, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said there had been no directive to unseal the premises or relax security arrangements.
The Nigeria Police Force sealed the PDP national secretariat on November 19, 2025, following violent clashes between rival leadership factions of the party. The dispute pits the Taminu Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC) against the factional leadership headed by Abdulrahman Mohammed.
While the Wike-backed faction had expressed confidence that the office would reopen on Monday, the Turaki-led NWC had earlier cautioned against any move to access the secretariat, citing ongoing court cases. The faction warned that reopening the premises without judicial clearance could amount to contempt of court.
Providing further clarification, former PDP presidential campaign spokesperson, Umar Sani, said the police denied the Wike-backed group access to the secretariat because the matter remained subject to litigation.
“The police refused them entry because there is a pending suit on the issue,” Sani said.
He also disclosed that the legal battle would advance on Tuesday, as the Court of Appeal is scheduled to hear a consolidated appeal filed by the Turaki faction challenging the judgments delivered by Justices James Omotosho and Peter Lifu in relation to the leadership tussle.
According to Sani, the outcome of the appeal proceedings would be critical to determining which faction has legitimate control of the party’s national secretariat and administrative structures.