Turaki’s PDP faction postpones NEC meeting due to tensions

The Peoples Democratic Party on Tuesday postponed its National Working Committee meeting following unrest outside its national secretariat in Wuse, Abuja.

Addressing the press at the party headquarters, PDP National Chairman Tanimu Turaki said the decision was taken due to disruptions caused by opponents of the party leadership.

“Due to some incidents caused by those who are the enemies of progress, the enemies of democracy, we have decided to postpone this meeting till tomorrow,” Turaki said.

The chairman spoke alongside Governors Seyi Makinde of Oyo and Bala Mohammed of Bauchi, reiterating the party’s commitment to peace and orderly conduct.

The postponement comes amid a standoff between Turaki’s faction and supporters of the Nyesom Wike-led bloc.

PUNCH Online had reported that Turaki emerged as PDP National Chairman during a disputed convention on Saturday, which was boycotted by the Wike-led faction.

Both factions had scheduled executive meetings at the party secretariat on Tuesday.

Supporters of the Wike-led faction, mostly women and youth groups, had taken over the streets around Wadata Plaza, carrying placards with messages targeting Turaki, including “No to Turaki” and “Turaki must go.”

The Wike-backed faction reportedly took control of the secretariat by 9:45 am, led by the sacked Acting National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, and accompanied by heavily armed police personnel.

Turaki also recounted the security arrangements preceding the attempted meeting.

“I told [the Commissioner of Police of the FCT] that we are coming today to have our inaugural NWC meeting, and I told him that our leaders will be here to witness this historic moment.

“And I also told him that we’ve seen on social media some flyers purporting to give notice of NEC and BOT by the people who are no longer members of this party.

“And he assured us that he is going to protect us, he assured us that he is going to provide security for us to conduct our meeting,” he said.

He added that he is happy that the Commissioner of Police of the FCT has fulfilled his promise, and made sure that they gained entry into their Secretariat.

“Now, however, due to some incidents that are called by those people who are the enemies of progress, who are the enemies of democracy, we have decided that this meeting will be postponed till tomorrow,” the chairman said.

Turaki thanked party leaders, former governors, members of the National Assembly, and members of the Board of Trustees who had come to show solidarity.

“We in PDP are a peace-loving people. We want peace to reign, because we want to take over governance in this country.

“And so if we want to take over governance in this country, then we need to have one country in place,” he said.

The postponed meeting is now expected to hold on Wednesday, with the party insisting it remains committed to unity and orderly conduct in its activities.