Politics
PDP Faction Drags IGP To Court Over Sealed Secretariat
The Kabiru Turaki (SAN)-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has approached the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking an order directing the Inspector-General of Police and the Nigeria Police Force to immediately unseal and vacate the party’s national secretariat and other offices nationwide.
The request is contained in a Motion on Notice filed by the plaintiffs through their lead counsel, Chief Chris Uche (SAN).
In the application, the plaintiffs are seeking a mandatory injunction compelling the police to remove all barricades, unseal the premises and withdraw from the PDP national headquarters in Abuja.
Naija News recalls that the party’s national secretariat was sealed in November following violent clashes between two rival factions of the PDP – one led by Kabiru Turaki and the other aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
The confrontation reportedly erupted after both factions scheduled meetings at the party headquarters on the same day.
Police intervened, firing tear gas to disperse party members, after which the premises were locked and barricaded with barbed wire.
The action prevented the Turaki-led National Working Committee from holding its postponed inaugural meeting.
Turaki emerged as national chairman at a PDP national convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State, in November.
However, the Wike-aligned faction rejected the convention, insisting that it violated subsisting court orders restraining the party from holding the exercise.
Earlier, Justices James Omotosho and Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, had restrained the PDP from holding its national convention scheduled for November 15 and 16, 2025.
In contrast, a High Court in Ibadan later granted the party permission to proceed with the convention through an ex parte order.
In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/252/2025, instituted by the PDP alongside Turaki and the Chairman of its Board of Trustees, Adolphus Wabara, the plaintiffs are asking the court to restrain the police from invading, sealing or restricting access to any PDP office across the 36 states.
They specifically prayed for: “An order of mandatory injunction directing the defendants to immediately remove all barricades, unseal and vacate forthwith from the 1st plaintiff’s national secretariat at Wadata Plaza, Plot 1970 Michael Okpara Way, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja, including its annex, ‘Legacy House’, at Plot 2774 Shehu Shagari Way, Maitama, Abuja, pending the determination of this suit.”
In an affidavit supporting the motion, deposed to by PDP National Secretary, Taofik Arapaja, the party said the police invaded and sealed its offices on November 18, 2025, without any lawful authority.
Arapaja stated that the PDP had merely written to security agencies, including the police and the Department of State Services, to notify them of an emergency stakeholders’ meeting and request security coverage.
He alleged that instead of providing protection, police officers led by the Commissioner of Police, FCT, fired over 200 tear gas canisters and sealed the premises, denying access to party officials, staff and visiting governors, including the governors of Bauchi and Oyo states.
The plaintiffs argued that the continued sealing of the secretariat has paralysed the party’s daily operations, including administration, policy formulation, membership management and election preparations.
They further contended that the Nigeria Police Force, as a statutory body under the Nigeria Police Act 2020, ought not to act in a partisan manner.
The PDP urged the court to grant the application, arguing that the balance of convenience favours the party and that monetary damages would not be an adequate remedy.
According to the plaintiffs, granting the reliefs would serve the interest of justice and prevent the police action from being perceived as sanctioned by the court.
The Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Gombe Local Government Area of Gombe State, Hon. Babangida Usman, popularly known as Babangida Ventures, has resigned from the party and defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in support of the governorship ambition of Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami ahead of the 2027 general election.
Babangida announced his resignation in Gombe, confirming that he had stepped down as ADC Local Government Secretary before formally joining the PDP.
Explaining the reasons for his defection, he said his decision was driven by his conviction that Professor Pantami possesses the competence, experience and leadership qualities required to move Gombe State forward.
He described the former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy as the most credible and capable aspirant in the 2027 governorship race, expressing confidence that his administration would accelerate development across the state.
According to him, his decision to align with the PDP was borne out of his desire to contribute to the realisation of Pantami’s governorship aspiration and the transformation of Gombe State.
The defection is the latest in a series of political realignments in the state following Pantami’s emergence as the PDP governorship candidate, with several politicians and supporters across party lines declaring their support for his ambition.
Professor Pantami is expected to fly the PDP flag in the 2027 governorship election in Gombe State
Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, denied social media reports that he urged Nigerians to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.
The Sultan’s media team, in a statement signed by Prince Bashir Adefaka on Tuesday, said the monarch cannot make partisan political statements publicly or privately.
Prince Bashir Adefaka urged Nigerians and media users to reject the claim, verify reports before sharing, and avoid dragging royal and religious institutions into politics.
The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has dismissed reports circulating on social media claiming that he has called on Nigerians to support the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.
The Sultan’s media team, in a statement signed by Prince Bashir Adefaka and made available to Naija News on Tuesday, described the claim as false, insisting that the Sultan, as a father figure to all Nigerians, could not make such a partisan political statement either publicly or privately.
Adefaka urged Nigerians to disregard and condemn what it described as a malicious attempt to drag the Sultan into partisan politics.
“Our simple response to the report is that it is not possible for the Sultan, as the father of all, to make such a statement, either publicly or in any other forum,” the statement said.
It further stated, “Let it be made clear once again that the institutions of monarchy and religion led by the Sultan are institutions of a father figure. As such, His Eminence cannot but remain within the purview of that role by offering fatherly, royal and spiritual blessings, as well as guidance, to Nigerian politicians who seek his counsel and blessings.
“The Sultan’s doors cannot be shut against anyone who comes to him, regardless of political affiliation or persuasion. His Eminence has consistently demonstrated that he is the father of all and will continue to relate with all Nigerians without discrimination.”
The Media Team called on members of the public to reject any attempt to misrepresent the Sultan’s position or associate him with the political campaign or candidacy of any individual ahead of the 2027 general elections.
It added that the Sultan remained committed to promoting peace, unity, stability and peaceful coexistence among Nigeria’s diverse peoples and faiths.
The statement also appealed to media practitioners and social media users to exercise restraint by verifying information before sharing reports capable of misleading the public or dragging traditional and religious institutions into partisan political controversies
Senator Mohammed Onawo, who represents Nasarawa South Senatorial District, announced on Wednesday, August 5, that he has left the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and joined the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), using the occasion to formally declare his bid for the Nasarawa State governorship ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Onawo made the announcement at a news conference held in Lafia, the state capital. A development that could pose a threat to the ambition of Atiku Abubakar, the 2027 presidential candidate of the ADC.
Atiku, who was a former vice president of Nigeria, has been at the forefront of sacking President Bola Tinubu through the poll.
Vanguard reported that the senator was originally elected in 2023 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before switching to the ADC. His latest move marks his second party defection within a short period.
Why Onawo left the ADC Onawo blamed his exit on what he described as a “sham” governorship primary process within the ADC in Nasarawa State.
He said the conduct of the primaries was characterised by manipulation and a lack of democratic process, and described the situation as worse than the circumstances that pushed him out of the PDP.
He said the decision to defect followed broad consultations with elders, political associates, and key stakeholders across the state.
Onawo’s governorship pitch Pitching himself as the right candidate for the top job in Nasarawa, Onawo said the state needed a leader who genuinely understood the diversity of its people. He promised to pursue unity among the state’s various ethnic and religious groups if voted into office.
The senator said his years of political experience, legislative background, and grassroots connections had positioned him ahead of governorship candidates from other parties. He also pledged to run an all-inclusive government focused on delivering prosperity to every resident of the state.
Onawo used the occasion to call on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure the 2027 elections are free, fair, and credible.
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