FCT Police Plan Deployment as PDP Secretariat Reopening Triggers Fresh Tension

FCT Police Plan Deployment as PDP Secretariat Reopening Triggers Fresh Tension
Rival PDP factions clash over authority and ongoing court case.
Police say officers will prevent any breakdown of law and order.

The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has said it will deploy officers to prevent a possible breakdown of law and order amid rising tension over the planned reopening of the Peoples Democratic Party national secretariat in Abuja.

The planned reopening is being pushed by the Abdulrahman Mohammed led caretaker committee, which is expected to resume activities at the party’s Wadata Plaza headquarters on Monday. The secretariat was sealed months ago following a violent clash between rival factions of the party.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that Senior officers at the FCT Police Command told Sunday Punch that although no formal briefing had been issued, police personnel would be stationed at the secretariat and other strategic locations to ensure peace.

The Acting National Secretary of the Mohammed led committee, Samuel Anyanwu, announced on Thursday that the secretariat would reopen for official activities. He dismissed claims that ongoing court cases would prevent the move.

“There are no legal barriers preventing the caretaker committee from resuming work at the party’s headquarters,” Anyanwu said.

However, the Tanimu Turaki led National Working Committee has strongly opposed the plan, insisting that Anyanwu and other members of the caretaker committee were expelled and lack the authority to act for the party.

Speaking with Sunday Punch, the committee’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, said the group had no legal standing.

“They are living in fool’s paradise. The worst form of deceit is self deceit, where the person knows he is deceiving himself yet continues with gusto,” he said.

Ememobong added that letters had been written to the Inspector General of Police and the FCT Commissioner of Police, warning against any attempt to reopen the secretariat while the matter remains before the court.

“The case pending before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik was instituted by the expelled members. They cannot resort to self help until judgment is delivered,” he said, warning that reopening the office would amount to contempt of court.

A senior police officer at the FCT Command, who spoke anonymously, confirmed that officers would be deployed to avoid a repeat of the November 19 violence that led to the closure of the secretariat.

“The command will not allow a breakdown of law and order. Police officers will be on ground,” he said.

Another officer confirmed police presence but declined to disclose deployment strength.

When contacted, FCT Police spokesperson Josephine Adeh said she had not been briefed on the planned reopening. She confirmed that the secretariat was initially sealed by the police but declined further comment.