Police Monday prevented the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees meeting from hold at party’s secretariat in Abuja, citing orders from above.
The police from the Federal Capital Territory prevented members from gaining entrance into the hall and those who were already inside the meeting venue were ordered to leave, throwing the PDP headquarters into pandemonium. Police and the Nigerian Civil Defence posted their men in strategic locations to prevent break down of law and order.
The PDP has been swimming in crisis and there seem to be no end to it as the BOT have been factionalised one chaired by Senator Adolphus Wabara and the other led by Senator Ahmed Maikarfi.
Speaking on the stoppage of the meeting former deputy national chairman of the PDP Bode George and former Ebonyi State governor Sam Egwu knocked the police for disrupting the gathering.
” This type of thing only happened during the military rule. The world is watching. But certainly, this is not the democracy we fought for,” said Mr. Egwu.
Bode George also condemned the seizure of the PDP venue of the BoT meeting, describing it as unusual in a democracy.
He wondered why the police should stop family members from entering their family house, stating that such fights are expected.
” We shall settle after the fights. This is all about democracy. We agree to disagree. It is normal in democracy.”
Meanwile the PDP moved the meeting to another venue even as the police denied sealing up its secretariat.
PDP posted on its X (Twitter) handle: “Happening Now- Federal Police, other security agencies with the order (sic) of All Progressives Congress, APC, harassing Board of Trustees members and staff of the Party’s National Secretariat in a bid to stop the scheduled meeting.
“Change of Venue for the PDP Board of Trustees, BoT, meeting. The meeting of the Board of Trustees, BoT, of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, earlier scheduled to hold by 10a.m., at the Party’s National Secretariat in Abuja, has been moved to Yar’Adua Center, Central Business District, Abuja.
In a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, the command said: “The FCT Police Command is aware of the news making the rounds alleging that the Police sealed off the PDP secretariat in Wuse Zone 5, Abuja.
“The command wishes to categorically state that this information is false, misleading, and does not reflect the true situation on ground.
Police blocking the entrance to the PDP secretariat.