PDP threatens legal action against attempted takeover of national secretariat

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has cautioned that its National Secretariat remains the subject of ongoing litigation and must not be forcefully accessed or occupied by any individual or group until the courts reach a determination.

This warning comes after reports that a faction of the party loyal to the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Minister, Nyesom Wike, plans to take over the party’s headquarters next Monday.

DAILY POST reported that the Independent National Electoral Commission, inec recently recognised the Wike-led PDP faction, allowing its representatives to attend the commission’s first quarterly stakeholders’ meeting with political parties in 2026.

Following the meeting, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, National Secretary of the PDP National Caretaker Committee of the Wike-led faction, reportedly stated, “By next Monday, we will take over the PDP headquarters.”

In response, the PDP, through a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, warned that intelligence indicates some expelled members may attempt, either by force or “in connivance with security forces,” to gain access to the party’s National Secretariat and other properties.

The party said it had formally written to the Inspector General of Police and the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, stressing that the secretariat is still “a case before the Federal High Court, Abuja, and the Court of Appeal.”

It added that any attempt to occupy the property while the matter is pending would constitute self-help and a direct challenge to judicial authority.

“Any attempt to enter and occupy these properties will be a resort to self-help and an affront to the time-tested principle of law that parties who have submitted to the jurisdiction of the courts should not act in ways that render the powers of the court nugatory,” the statement said.

The PDP noted that the case before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court was instituted by the expelled members themselves, insisting that they must await the judgment.

“Having instituted the suit, they cannot resort to self-help until judgment is delivered in the matter,” the party stated.

The statement also warned that the Nigeria Police Force, a party on record in the case, would be acting in contempt of court if it grants access to any individual pending the outcome of the suit.

“Any action taken to grant access to anybody before the conclusion of the case amounts to contempt of court,” it added.

Reaffirming its commitment to protecting its property, the PDP stated it would explore all lawful options to defend the secretariat and warned that any injury or damage resulting from forced entry would be the responsibility of those attempting it.

“We will deploy all legal means to defend our property from trespass, and responsibility for any injury to persons or damage to property should be placed solely on the aggressors and their security collaborators,” the statement said.