PDP secretariat unsealing dispute has escalated following the decision of the Nigeria Police Force to reopen the Peoples Democratic Party national secretariat in Abuja, a move that immediately triggered fresh exchanges of blame between rival party factions over legitimacy and control of the facility.
The PDP has been engulfed in a prolonged internal leadership crisis that led to the sealing of its national secretariat, Wadata Plaza, Abuja, in November 2025. The action followed violent clashes between rival factions laying claim to the party’s national leadership structure.
The dispute deepened after conflicting court decisions and competing claims over the legitimacy of party executives. A Federal High Court ruling had earlier directed security agencies to grant access to one of the factions while restricting another, further complicating enforcement actions by authorities.
The reopening of the secretariat marks a new phase in the ongoing legal and political struggle within the party.
The PDP secretariat unsealing dispute intensified after the police officially unsealed the Wadata Plaza headquarters and handed control to party officials aligned with a faction recognized under recent legal and administrative arrangements.
According to statements from party officials, the police action also covered the PDP’s Legacy House office in Maitama, Abuja, which had similarly been sealed during the height of the crisis.
One faction of the party welcomed the development, describing it as compliance with court orders and a restoration of administrative order. The group commended the police for what it called professionalism and adherence to due process.
However, the opposing faction strongly rejected the development, arguing that the court judgment referenced by security agencies had been appealed and should not have been executed while legal proceedings were ongoing.
The faction accused security agencies of acting in a partisan manner and claimed that the reopening effectively altered the status quo of a matter still subject to judicial review. It maintained that the action could undermine the authority of appellate courts and escalate tensions within the party structure.
Meanwhile, another faction insisted that the reopening was lawful and aligned with existing judicial pronouncements that validated its leadership position. It urged party members to maintain peace and resume normal activities at the secretariat.
The PDP secretariat unsealing dispute highlights the growing intersection between judicial rulings and political party administration in Nigeria. It also underscores the role of security agencies in enforcing contested court decisions in politically sensitive environments.
The situation raises concerns about institutional neutrality, particularly as rival factions interpret legal outcomes differently and seek enforcement of competing claims.
For party operations, the reopening may restore administrative functionality at national headquarters, but underlying leadership disagreements remain unresolved.
