Police Fire Teargas at PDP Headquarters as Gov. Makinde’s Faction Clashes with Minister Wike’s Camp

Violence erupted on Tuesday at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national headquarters in Abuja, where Policemen fired teargas to disperse supporters as the party’s leadership crisis boiled over.

Chaos broke out at Wadata Plaza when Governor Seyi Makinde, Governor Bala Mohammed, and the Turaki-led executive arrived at the secretariat.

Supporters of Senator Samuel Anyanwu’s faction attempted to block their entry, triggering clashes that drew in security operatives.

Governor Makinde condemned the level of disorder and emphasised the need for the party to restore internal stability.

Amid the confrontation, police fired teargas, forcing party members, officials, and journalists to scamper for safety.

The Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, also arrived at the secretariat. He however refused to step outside but remained inside his vehicle for more than 30 minutes as the unrest continued.

It was gathered that armed policemen and their operational vans took over strategic positions around the complex early Tuesday morning, following intelligence warnings of possible clashes between the camps loyal to Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and those aligned with Governor Makinde.

Trouble started when the faction led by Makinde and Bauchi’s Mohammed arrived for their scheduled meeting, only to meet another group loyal to Wike attempting to access the same hall for a separate NEC and Board of Trustees session earlier convened by the disputed National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu.

Eyewitnesses told our reporters that both groups exchanged altercations before police officers began firing teargas to disperse the growing crowd of loyalists from the two camps. Several party members were seen scampering for safety as the situation degenerated.

Earlier, a faction of the PDP backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, had announced that an emergency meeting of the party’s Board of Trustees and National Executive Committee would hold on Tuesday, November 18, 2025.

According to a notice issued on Monday by the factional National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, and shared by the media aide to the FCT Minister, Lere Olayinka, on his X handle, both meetings were scheduled to take place at the NEC Hall of the PDP National Secretariat, Wadata Plaza, Abuja.

Meanwhile, the faction loyal to Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, also fixed a separate meeting for the same venue and date, further heightening concerns over possible confrontation between loyalists of the two blocs.

The deepening division comes just days after the PDP expelled the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike; former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose; and the party’s former National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, during its national convention in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The decision, announced before a charged crowd of delegates, followed a motion moved by Chief Olabode George, former National Vice Chairman (South), calling for their immediate expulsion. Samaila Buga, Chairman of the PDP in Bauchi State, seconded the motion.

However, the fallout continued on Monday as Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, rejected the expulsions, insisting he was not part of the decision and that key party organs were sidelined.

In a statement issued by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Gyang Bere, Mutfwang said he had no prior knowledge of the motion that led to the removal of Wike, Fayose, Anyanwu, and other leaders.

He noted that the issue was neither discussed by the PDP Governors’ Forum nor the National Executive Committee (NEC) before it was presented at the convention in Ibadan.