Fears of One-Party Drift Grow as PDP Crisis Deepens, Turns Violent

Chaotic scenes erupted at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national secretariat in Abuja yesterday as rival factions clashed violently, heightening concerns over the future of opposition politics and raising fresh fears of a slide toward one-party dominance ahead of the 2027 elections.

Thugs, tear gas, and open confrontations turned the Wadata Plaza headquarters into what security operatives described as “a dangerous battlefield,” as factions loyal to different power blocs fought for control of the party.


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Makinde–Bala Mohammed Camp Attempts Takeover

Tensions began early in the morning after the faction led by Acting National Chairman, Alhaji Mohammed Abdulrahman, took charge of the secretariat around 7:30 a.m., locking out supporters of Governor Seyi Makinde and the group that elected Kabiru Tanimu Turaki as National Chairman at a controversial convention in Ibadan.

At about 11:00 a.m., the Makinde–Bala Mohammed group arrived in what insiders described as a “counter-offensive,” attempting to force entry into the secretariat while the Wike-aligned faction held a Board of Trustees (BoT) meeting inside.

The confrontation quickly escalated, with thugs clashing with police officers and security personnel. Tear gas canisters were fired repeatedly, sending journalists, staff, and party members running for safety.

A journalist, Mohammed Baba, sustained head injuries after his camera was smashed by thugs believed to be loyalists of the Bala Mohammed faction.


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Wike-Backed Faction Expels Three Governors, Dissolves State Excos

At its factional National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, the Wike-aligned bloc ratified the expulsion of three sitting governors—Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), and Dauda Lawal (Zamfara)—along with several senior party figures.

Also expelled were:

Senator Adolphus Wabara (BoT Chairman)

Taofeek Arapaja (former Deputy National Chairman, South)

Olabode George (former Deputy National Chairman candidate)

Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (former Minister)

Other top party leaders accused of anti-party activities


The faction also dissolved PDP State Executives in Oyo, Bauchi, Zamfara, Yobe, Lagos, and Ekiti, directing the immediate inauguration of caretaker committees. The Edo State Exco was the only one affirmed.


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Turaki: ‘Democracy Under Serious Siege’

Flanked by Governors Makinde and Bala Mohammed, Turaki condemned the siege on the secretariat, accusing “enemies of democracy” of attempting to stop the newly elected leadership from assuming office.

He praised the police for preventing what he described as “further bloodshed,” but announced a postponement of the faction’s inaugural NWC meeting due to the violence.


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ADC, MCE Accuse APC of Destabilising Opposition

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Movement for Credible Elections (MCE) strongly condemned the violent takeover, accusing the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of orchestrating the crisis to weaken the opposition.

In separate statements:

ADC said the invasion marked “a dangerous assault on democracy,” accusing the Federal Government of deploying armed agents to enforce factional dominance within an opposition party.

MCE criticised the use of police in the conflict, warning that the politicisation of security agencies posed a direct threat to Nigeria’s multiparty system.


Both groups warned that the events of the day pointed to a coordinated attempt to push Nigeria toward a de facto one-party state.


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Analysts Warn of Dangerous Drift Toward One-Party Rule

Former PDP senator Emmanuel Onwe described the crisis as part of a larger pattern undermining political plurality. He linked the turmoil to a surge in defections across the political landscape, noting that over 180 defection cases had been recorded between 2019 and 2025.

Onwe warned that the mass movement of politicians into the APC was creating a “gravitational pull” that risked collapsing opposition parties and eroding democratic checks and balances.


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NEC Reaffirms Abdulrahman as Acting Chairman

In its communique, the Abdulrahman-led NEC:

Reaffirmed him as Acting National Chairman

Ordered the recovery of seats held by lawmakers who defected to other parties

Cited constitutional breaches committed by expelled members

Directed a nationwide membership audit ahead of the 2027 elections

Insisted that reconciliation efforts would not dilute party discipline


Chief Ali Odefa was also ordered to refund all salaries and allowances earned since his expulsion in 2024.


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Bala Mohammed: ‘PDP Will Not Be Dismantled’

Reacting to the blockade at the secretariat, Governor Bala Mohammed vowed that the PDP Governors’ Forum would resist any attempt to cripple the party.

He warned the presidency against backing individuals he accused of abusing state power to destabilise internal party structures.

“The PDP will not be cowed, harassed, or silenced,” he said. “We have survived worse. We will survive this.”


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Yesterday’s events marked one of the most turbulent days in the PDP’s 26-year history, underlining the deep internal fractures and external pressures threatening its survival as Nigeria’s leading opposition party.