The newly elected National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Tanimu Turaki, SAN, says the party has formally alerted the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command of its plan to reclaim full access to the PDP National Secretariat, Wadata Plaza, where it intends to hold its first National Working Committee (NWC) meeting on Tuesday.
Turaki made this known on Monday in Abuja after leading members of the newly elected NWC to a meeting with the FCT Commissioner of Police. He described the visit as a key part of preparations for the party’s first official gathering since its national elective convention in Ibadan.
According to him, the session will bring together major figures in the party, including PDP governors, National Assembly members, Board of Trustees (BoT) members, state chairmen, and founding leaders.
“We are going to have the inaugural National Working Committee meeting of our party, the People’s Democratic Party, tomorrow,” he said.
“At this meeting, we have invited all our stakeholders and founding fathers. We’ve invited all our governors, members of the National Assembly, members of the Board of Trustees, state chairmen, and other critical stakeholders.”
Turaki explained that the party reached out to the police to ensure order and prevent disruption, following what he called attempts by expelled members to circulate unauthorized notices of BOT and NEC meetings on social media.
“We have seen things flying around on social media — a purported notice of BOT and NEC meeting given by people who, for all intents and purposes, are no longer members of this party,” he said.
He stressed that the National Convention is the highest decision-making organ of the PDP and that it had already decided the fate of those individuals.
“Next to God, in the management of a political party is the National Convention. The decision taken in a National Convention overrides every other decision. Our National Convention has taken a decision to expel these elements. They are no longer members of our party.”
Turaki said the party briefed the police to forestall any breach of peace as the newly elected leadership prepares to resume administrative duties at the secretariat.
“As leaders, we want peace to be sustained. This democracy that our forefathers sacrificed their lives for — we shall also be ready to give our own lives to sustain it.”
On the status of Wadata Plaza, which has recently been under lock and contention, Turaki insisted that the party would regain access without hindrance.
“We are holding the meeting in our National Secretariat, Wadata House. Anybody sitting there without our consent is an interloper. We are going there, we’ll have the offices opened, and begin to perform the functions for which we’ve been elected.”
He noted that while the PDP will avoid confrontation, they will not remain passive if their safety is threatened.
“I assured the Commissioner of Police that while we will ensure no breach of peace, we will defend ourselves and our integrity as Nigerians. The Constitution gives us that right.”
He reaffirmed that the NWC meeting will begin at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, with circulars already sent out.
“I, as the National Chairman of the PDP, will be leading from the front, not from the rear,” he added.
According to him, the Commissioner of Police has promised full security support to guarantee a peaceful exercise.
“The CP assured us that they will do everything it takes to ensure there is no breakdown of law and order. We trust that the police will give us the protection we are entitled to under the law.”
With that assurance, Turaki said the party leadership is ready to reclaim Wadata Plaza and formally begin its new chapter.