Amid mounting tension within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the party has condemned the presence of armed policemen at its national secretariat in Abuja, describing it as an act of intimidation and harassment targeted at its Board of Trustees (BoT).
In response, the party announced a change in the venue of its BoT meeting, initially scheduled for 10 a.m. at the Wadata Plaza, relocating it to the Yar’Adua Centre in the Central Business District of the Federal Capital Territory.
“The Meeting of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) earlier scheduled to hold by 10 a.m. at the Party’s National Secretariat in Abuja has been moved to YarAdua Centre,” the PDP posted via its official X (formerly Twitter) account on Monday.
The development followed the deployment of operatives from the FCT Police Command who reportedly sealed off the secretariat, barring BoT members, including prominent figures such as Maina Chiroma, from gaining access.
Speaking on the incident, a former National Secretary of the party, Umar Tsauri, told Channels Television that the police personnel claimed they were “acting on orders from above.”
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The PDP criticized the police action, labeling it an undemocratic move designed to disrupt the internal workings of the party.
According to the party, the blockade not only violated its autonomy but also prevented its BoT from convening peacefully at the designated venue.
This confrontation adds to the growing unrest surrounding the PDP’s leadership structure, as the party was also scheduled to hold a crucial National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on the same day.
Though no official reason has been given for the police presence, speculations suggest it may be connected to ongoing power tussles and leadership disputes within the opposition party.
As at the time of this report, BoT members had proceeded to the Yar’Adua Centre to continue with their meeting.