- Abdulrahman storms Abuja Secretariat and declares himself PDP Acting National Chairman.
- Security operatives fire tear gas as staff protest leadership change at PDP office.
- Abdulrahman unveils agenda to heal PDP crisis and organise a unified National Convention.
- Leadership tussle deepens as Damagum loyalists reportedly shut out of Secretariat.
There was chaos at the National Secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja on Monday when Mohammed Abdulrahman abruptly appeared at the complex and declared himself the PDP Acting National Chairman.
Abdulrahman arrived with the National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, along with other officers who escorted him into the building. After settling into the Chairman’s office, he told journalists that he had formally assumed leadership of the opposition party.
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He announced a three-point rescue agenda, promising to reconcile factions, restore discipline and reposition the party ahead of a major National Convention to elect a new National Working Committee (NWC) after all pending congresses have been completed at the zonal, state, local government and ward levels.
“My job here as Acting National Chairman is simple: heal the party of its wounds, end division, make the party law-abiding, and organise an all-inclusive National Convention,” Abdulrahman said.
He explained that his move followed meetings with key stakeholders who expressed worry over the worsening PDP crisis. According to him, the party’s decline happened under Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum, whom he accused of allowing disunity and weak leadership.
“We are all aware of the pitiable condition of our great party. From leading Nigeria for 16 years, we are now an opposition party battling defections of governors, lawmakers and key members,” he lamented.
Abdulrahman vowed to return the PDP to its founding principles.
“We will hand this party back to its real owners, the Nigerian people,” he said, calling for support and unity.
Before his arrival, workers at the Secretariat attempted to protest the takeover, blocking the entrance to the National Secretary’s office and insisting that Senator Anyanwu should not be allowed in, citing his earlier suspension. The protest escalated and security operatives fired tear gas to disperse the crowd.
With no sign of the outgoing chairman, Damagum, Abdulrahman and his team moved into the Chairman’s office and declared control. Shortly afterwards, the Secretariat was shut down amid reports that Damagum and his supporters were unable to access the facility for their own scheduled meeting.
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As of press time, Damagum had not appeared at the Secretariat, leaving the party in uncertainty over who currently holds legitimate authority.
Political analysts say the dramatic takeover further exposes the deep leadership crisis within the PDP, a party already struggling with internal power battles and declining influence ahead of upcoming elections.
