Security operatives have sealed the PDP National Secretariat and Legacy House in Abuja amid a leadership crisis.
The action followed Abdulrahman Mohammed’s controversial emergence as the party’s Acting National Chairman.
Security operatives on Monday sealed off the two main offices of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the National Secretariat in Wadata Plaza and the Legacy House in Maitama, as the party’s internal leadership dispute intensified.
Eyewitnesses said heavily armed officers arrived at Wadata Plaza early in the morning and ordered everyone, including staff and journalists, to leave the premises before locking the gates. A similar operation took place shortly after at the Legacy House, which serves as the headquarters of the PDP National Convention Organizing Committee.
Police officers stationed at both facilities reportedly told journalists they were acting under “instructions from above” and barred entry into the buildings. The security lockdown created panic among party members and signaled a fresh escalation in the ongoing power struggle.
The clampdown came only hours after Abdulrahman Mohammed assumed office as the Acting National Chairman, a move that many within the party have described as controversial. His appointment is said to have deepened the division within the National Working Committee (NWC), leaving the opposition party in a state of uncertainty.
According to sources within the party, the deployment of security personnel was a preventive step to stop rival factions from storming the premises. One senior official explained that intelligence reports indicated that both camps were preparing to take control of the buildings simultaneously, prompting authorities to act quickly to avert a confrontation.
Mohammed’s emergence is believed to have the support of a faction loyal to a former South-South governor. His supporters accuse the previous leadership of mismanagement and claim his appointment will restore unity and discipline. Mohammed has pledged to reorganize the PDP and strengthen its position ahead of the 2027 elections.
However, not all members share this optimism. Critics have condemned his rise to power as an unlawful takeover that violates the party’s internal processes. The confusion grew worse when some PDP employees walked out of the Wadata Plaza in protest, saying they would not return until the leadership dispute is resolved.
As of Monday evening, both the National Secretariat and Legacy House remained closed, with armed policemen maintaining heavy security. Meanwhile, loyalists from the two rival groups were said to be holding separate meetings in undisclosed locations as efforts to calm tensions continue.
