…solicits Trump’s backing as internal feud heightens
The former minister (centre) said the party would listen to Nigerians and give them what they want.
Kabiru Turaki on Tuesday assumed office as the national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). His resumption came after a standoff at the party’s Wadata Secretariat in Abuja.
“For the past seven hours, Nigerians are living witnesses to the struggle we’ve been engaged in with those renegade members of our party that were expelled at our national convention in Ibadan,” Turaki said while addressing pressmen.
“They came here with armed thugs that we did predict would disrupt our meetings, but God so kind, we were able to contain them effectively.”
He said, “Now, we have driven them out of the secretariat, and, as you can see, I have entered my office; I have assumed leadership as the elected chairman”.
Some security operatives outside the PDP headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday, November 18, 2025.
Earlier in the day, rival groups clashed at the PDP secretariat as the leadership crisis in the party reached new levels.
Security operatives were stationed at the secretariat with Samuel Anyanwu and others loyal to FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike insisting they won’t vacate the place.
Chaos broke out when Turaki; Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Bala Mohammed of Bauchi and other members of the newly-elected PDP executives arrived at the premises.
The police fired teargas as Anyanwu’s supporters tried to block the group from entering the secretary.
Recounting what happened, Turaki said: “If we had not exercised restraint, if we had not controlled our members and our leaders, there would have been bloodshed here,” he said.
“We have been tear-gassed, and I think more than 50 canisters of tear gas had been shot at us. But we remained relentless and will continue to remain relentless.”
Despite this, the PDP chairman vowed that the party would continue to “defend democracy; we shall continue to act as the vanguards of democracy”.
Turaki said, “I have taken over my office, and PDP is back on course”.
A ‘Jamboree’
Anyanwu said the governors had once proposed that the party’s amended constitution recognise the Governors’ Forum as an organ of the party.
The most recent events came days after the PDP held its convention in Ibadan, Oyo State between Saturday and Sunday. It came in the wake of conflicting judgements, one sanctioning the event and another asking the party to halt the process.
During the convention, the group expelled Anyanwu; Wike; ex-governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose and others for anti-party activities.
However, Anyanwu and his group has dismissed the suspension, describing it as a “jamboree” and illegality.
Come and save us — PDP chairman seeks Trump’s help as party’s crisis worsens
The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Kabiru Turaki, has on Tuesday made appealed to the President of the United States, Donald Trump and the international community to intervene in Nigeria’s political climate, warning that the country’s democracy was “under threat” as internal crisis rocking the PDP escalated in Abuja.
Turaki, speaking to journalists before the PDP faction he leads attempted to hold a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, accused the FCT minister, Nyesom Wike, of leading armed thugs with the alleged backing of police officers to disrupt party activities.
He said the situation had reached a level that required global intervention.
“I want to call on President Trump, what is at stake is not just genocide against Christians, he should come and save democracy in Nigeria. Democracy is under threat, I am calling all other developed nations, all advanced democracy, come and save Nigeria.”
Turaki said the the party leaders are ready to pay the ultimate price to protect the country’s democracy.
“I have said it, we are willing to lay down our lives to protect our office, to protect democracy and to protect our mandate,” he said.
His comments came minutes before chaos erupted at the PDP’s national secretariat in Wadata Plaza, where two rival blocs — the Nyesom Wike-backed faction and the newly constituted National Working Committee (NWC) loyal to Turaki — scheduled parallel meetings on the same day.
Tensions spiked when Samuel Anyanwu, the national secretary aligned with Wike, arrived with supporters for a separate Board of Trustees (BoT) and NEC meeting. Heated verbal exchanges quickly escalated into scuffles as both camps jostled for control of the premises.
Police operatives on ground struggled to manage the situation and eventually ordered everyone, including senior party officials, to evacuate the compound. The confrontation worsened shortly after, prompting officers to fire teargas canisters to disperse the crowd.
The sudden deployment of teargas sent party members, staff and journalists scattering in panic. Many were seen coughing, shielding their faces and fleeing toward nearby streets in a chaotic stampede.
Outside the secretariat, clashes continued as supporters from both sides brandished sticks and other objects, further heightening tensions around the embattled opposition party.
The PDP crisis, which has deepened ahead of key internal decisions, remains unresolved as both factions continue to assert authority.
