The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) faction, led by the National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, has taken charge of the party’s national secretariat at Wadata Plaza in Abuja.
The faction has National Vice President (North Centre), Mohammed Abdulrahman, as acting president.
Anyanwu had been suspended along with three other national officials on Saturday by the National Working Committee (NWC) headed by the national chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum, for alleged anti-party activities.
In a swift response, the Anyanwu faction of the NWC also announced the suspension of Damagum and some members of the NWC.
On Monday, Anyanwu arrived at the secretariat a few minutes before Abdulrahman, who also arrived with his supporters cheering him.
A chaotic scene soon ensued as supporters of the faction trooped into the premises, accompanying Anyanwu and Abdulrahman to take over the national president’s office.
In the process, some PDP staff were attacked by their supporters who they believed were trying to prevent the Anyanwu group from entering the office.
However, the group finally entered the office and held a meeting.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Abdulrahman declared that he had formally assumed the position of national chairman of the PDP.
He promised that, as acting president, he would work to restore confidence in the party.
“Today I resumed my role as acting national president.
“I want to assure Nigerians and its members that we have a new opportunity to join forces to take the party to where it belongs,” he said.
Abdulrahman also stated that Nigerians looked up to the PDP to rebuild Nigeria but said they could not do so if its members remained divided.
Anyanwu also told reporters that he had taken Abdulrahman on a tour of the secretariat and shown him around the offices, adding that by returning the presidency position to the Centre-North, the PDP was already in the process of making peace.
The group left the building immediately after the press conference.
Numerous armed police arrived to secure the secretariat, apparently to prevent a possible breakdown of public order.
At the time of filing this report, there had been no news from the Damagum faction.