ABUJA – Tension gripped the National Secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), popularly known as Wadata Plaza, on Monday, June 30, 2025, as heavily armed police officers barricaded the premises following conflicting directives over the party’s 100th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting.
As early as 8:30 a.m., over 70 armed policemen had taken strategic positions around the secretariat, while Dalaba Street leading to the complex was blocked off with police trucks. Youths suspected to be political thugs, who had gathered around the premises, were quickly dispersed by security operatives.
Secretariat staff who arrived earlier in the day were ordered to vacate the building, while only a few who came later were allowed to remain.
The heightened security came in the wake of internal turmoil within the PDP, with two top officials issuing opposing instructions regarding the scheduled NEC meeting.
Deputy National Chairman (South), Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja, in a press briefing on Sunday night, insisted the 100th NEC meeting would go ahead as planned on Monday at the NEC Hall of Wadata Plaza. He stressed the meeting was legally binding and backed by the National Working Committee (NWC).
“For the avoidance of doubt, the National Working Committee assures all party members that the 100th NEC meeting will proceed as scheduled tomorrow,” Arapaja declared.
However, the party’s National Secretary, Senator Sam Anyanwu, issued a conflicting directive, announcing the NEC meeting had been replaced with a “Special Expanded National Caucus Meeting,” also scheduled for Monday. His notice invited former governors, ex-gubernatorial candidates, state party chairmen, and National Assembly caucus members to attend the new meeting.
Amid the confusion, prominent party figures, including Board of Trustees (BoT) member Hajia Maina Ciroma, were reportedly denied access to the secretariat.
The conflicting notices and police presence underscore deepening divisions within the PDP leadership, casting uncertainty over the party’s internal cohesion and its preparedness ahead of the 2027 general elections.
