Fresh tension broke out at the National Secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja on Monday following the dramatic emergence of Mohammed Abdulrahman, who proclaimed himself the Acting National Chairman of the party.
Abdulrahman, who arrived at the secretariat alongside the National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, and a few other party officials, announced that he had assumed office with immediate effect, vowing to reunite the divided opposition party and restore internal order.
Addressing journalists shortly after taking charge, Abdulrahman unveiled a three-point agenda centred on reconciliation, discipline, and the organisation of an all-inclusive National Convention to elect a substantive National Working Committee (NWC).
"My job here as Acting National Chairman is simple: heal the party of its wounds and end factionalisation; reposition the party and make it law-abiding; and plan an all-inclusive National Convention to elect a properly constituted NWC after completing the outstanding congresses at the zonal, state, local government, and ward levels," he said.
Abdulrahman said his intervention followed consultations with "very critical stakeholders" who were concerned about the PDP’s dwindling fortunes under the outgoing National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum.
"We are all aware of the pitiable state of our great party due to the actions and inactions of some leaders and members. From being Nigeria’s ruling party for 16 uninterrupted years, we have become an opposition party for over a decade, weakened by defections of governors, legislators, and council chairmen," he said.
He called on members to return to the party’s founding ideals, promising what he described as a "new dawn and rebirth" for the PDP.
"We will hand this beloved party back to her true owners, the Nigerian people. But I cannot do this job alone. I need your support, prayers, and genuine commitment to lift our party upward," he said.
Before Abdulrahman’s arrival, tension had already mounted at the PDP Secretariat, where some staff reportedly tried to resist the leadership change.
Security operatives fired tear gas to disperse the protesting workers who had barricaded the National Secretary’s office, insisting that Senator Anyanwu, who had been suspended by the Damagum-led NWC, should not be allowed entry.
The standoff occurred in the absence of Damagum, who was said to be away from the premises at the time.
Shortly afterwards, Abdulrahman and his team gained access to the complex, proceeded to the Chairman’s office, and symbolically took over before addressing the press.
Following the takeover, the PDP Secretariat was temporarily locked down amid reports that Damagum and his loyalists, who were expected to hold a separate meeting later in the day, were denied access to the building.
READ ALSO: Agbese: No Cause for Alarm Over Tinubu’s Fresh $2.3bn Loan Request
Comments
Post a Comment