Convention chaos: Turaki-led PDP alleges intimidation

By Luminous Jannamike

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on Saturday accused the Federal Government of frustrating its Special National Convention in Abuja through venue intimidation and heavy security deployment, which it said prevented the event from proceeding as planned.

Despite the standoff, party leaders held an emergency meeting and pressed ahead with the convention’s central task, unanimously affirming former President Goodluck Jonathan as the PDP’s presidential candidate and flag bearer for the 2027 presidential election, while postponing the formal flag-giving ceremonies.

The developments forced party leaders to abandon plans for a full-scale convention and instead hold emergency consultations before proceeding with selected activities.

The position was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the convention and signed by Comrade Ini Ememobong, National Publicity Secretary of the PDP Interim National Working Committee.

According to the party, it had duly notified the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and relevant security agencies of activities relating to the selection of candidates for elective offices.

It also said the A-Class Event Centre in Abuja, chosen for the convention, had been fully paid for and made available for preparatory activities.

The PDP claimed that by 7 p.m. on Friday, more than 20 truckloads of police personnel had been deployed to block access to the road leading to the event centre.

“As if that was not enough, by 7 p.m. on Friday, 29th May, more than 20 truckloads of policemen were deployed to block the entire road where the event centre is located, forcing motorists to drive against traffic,” the communiqué said.

The party further alleged that the management of the event centre later informed it that the booking had been cancelled following threats by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

The communiqué stated: “Surprisingly, the management of the event centre called to cancel the booking, citing an invitation and threat from the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, that their certificate of occupancy would be revoked and their event centre demolished if the PDP event was allowed to hold there.”

The PDP said it reminded the management of the existing contract and insisted that the convention would proceed as scheduled.

It further alleged that the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, subsequently issued a statement conveying threats of revocation against business premises hosting events it considered unlawful.

Amid the unfolding standoff, the party said its leadership convened an emergency meeting involving members of the Board of Trustees, Interim National Working Committee, National Executive Committee, state chairmen, governorship candidates, National Assembly candidates and other critical stakeholders.

After reviewing the situation, stakeholders resolved not to confront security personnel or attempt to force access to the venue.

“Considering the very passionate appeal by elder statesmen, the party aborted the earlier plan to resist the security occupation of the event centre and forcefully use the venue for the ceremonies,” the communiqué stated.

The party said the elders urged restraint and advised against allowing political disagreements to degenerate into physical confrontation.

“They admonished that when a mad person runs away with your cloth, you do not chase the deranged person naked; otherwise, those who see the chase will simply conclude that two mad people are running,” the communique read.

With plans to physically challenge the security blockade shelved, stakeholders turned to the business that had brought them to Abuja in the first place.

“Since the main activity of the day is the affirmation of President Goodluck Jonathan, the stakeholders continued with the plan and President Goodluck Jonathan was unanimously affirmed, after a motion was duly moved and seconded, as the presidential candidate and flag bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party for the 2027 presidential election,” the PDP interim NWC said.

The communiqué added that the formal presentation and flag-giving ceremonies would be conducted at a later date.

The PDP also condemned what it described as the abuse of state power against opposition parties and warned of the implications for Nigeria’s democracy.

“The party strongly condemned the brazen use of unmitigated power by officials of this administration, especially the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, with the obvious support of the President,” it said.

The party argued that if such actions were left unchecked, they could encourage authoritarian tendencies capable of undermining democratic governance.

It further contended that the events surrounding the convention reflected what it described as growing fear of the PDP within the ruling establishment.

The communiqué stated, “This shameful oppression has validated the widely perceived fear of the PDP by the ruling party. Whereas other parties with leadership issues similar to ours have conducted their conventions without threats from the ruling party, the PDP is too feared to be allowed the constitutionally guaranteed right to meet.

“We call on the President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to rein in his fear of impending loss and take practical steps to de-escalate the political tensions which have been an unwarranted addition to the already heightened political temperature in the country.”

The PDP urged its members nationwide to remain steadfast and united, expressing confidence that the current challenges would ultimately strengthen the party ahead of the next general election.

With Jonathan now affirmed as its presidential standard-bearer, the PDP declared itself ready for the 2027 election and charged its Interim National Working Committee to ensure the party’s full participation in the polls.

It also vowed to draw local and international attention to what it described as the growing asphyxiation of opposition politics and efforts to turn Nigeria into a one-party state.

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