Tension gripped the national headquarters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja on Monday as heavily armed police and Civil Defence operatives barricaded the party’s Secretariat and stopped members of the Board of Trustees (BoT) from holding their scheduled meeting.
Eyewitnesses said about 200 security personnel took control of the Secretariat, ordering party staff out of the premises and locking journalists outside the gates. Staff members who were already inside when security operatives arrived were initially forced out but were later allowed back in after thorough checks.
One police officer, who was heard giving instructions, said they were acting on orders “from above” not to allow any BoT meeting or fresh entry into the Secretariat.
Speaking to reporters shortly before BoT members were prevented from accessing the National Executive Committee (NEC) hall, former National Secretary of the party and BoT member, Senator Ibrahim Tsauri, expressed dismay over the blockade. “The NEC meeting is scheduled for 1pm. I came here but since they have stopped the BoT, I do not know if they can hold the NEC,” Tsauri said.
The reasons behind the sudden security clampdown remain unclear as party leaders scrambled to resolve the standoff.
