The leadership crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has taken a new turn as the party’s acting national chairman, Umar Damagum, has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, accusing Samuel Anyanwu, the party’s suspended national secretary, of leading a violent invasion of the PDP national secretariat in Abuja.
In the petition dated October 3, 2025, Damagum alleged that Anyanwu stormed the party headquarters with armed thugs in an attempt to install a factional leadership, describing the incident as “a brazen assault on the party’s integrity.”
According to the letter, the invasion was allegedly supported by Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and involved several suspended officials, including Abdulrahman Mohammed (Vice-Chairman, North Central), Kamaldeen Ajibade (National Legal Adviser), Okechukwu Osuoha (Deputy Legal Adviser), and Umaru Bature (National Organising Secretary).
“To our utmost shock, on Monday, November 3, 2025, the suspended Senator Samuel Anyanwu violently invaded the national secretariat of our party with thugs mobilised by his aides, Arthur Bruno, Emmanuel Okoronkwo, and one Chidiebere Egwu, brandishing dangerous weapons including guns, knives, and cutlasses,” the petition read.
“They broke into offices, unleashed violence, fired tear gas, assaulted journalists, and disrupted official activities.”
Damagum said a female staff member fainted from tear gas inhalation but was later revived, while three others; Terna Tergba, Cecilia Ukwayi, and Innocent Ezekiel were hospitalised for injuries sustained during the attack.
He added that the assailants attempted to forcefully install Abdulrahman Mohammed as the acting national chairman and that police officers attached to the FCT command failed to stop the invasion.
Efforts by DAILY GAZETTE to reach Anyanwu for comment on Wednesday morning were unsuccessful, as he declined to speak on the allegations.
The latest confrontation follows the declaration by Abdulrahman Mohammed on Monday, when he proclaimed himself acting national chairman of the PDP at the party headquarters, an action widely viewed as a challenge to Damagum’s authority.
Mohammed was accompanied by a crowd of supporters who demanded Damagum’s resignation.
The PDP crisis intensified last weekend when Damagum’s National Working Committee (NWC) announced the suspension of Anyanwu, Ajibade, Osuoha, and Bature for alleged anti-party activities.
The suspension was announced by Debo Ologunagba, the PDP spokesperson, following an emergency NWC meeting in Abuja.
In a swift countermeasure, the Anyanwu-led faction, reportedly backed by Wike, suspended Damagum and five other national officers, including Ologunagba, Taofeek Arapaja (Deputy National Vice-Chairman, South), Daniel Woyenguikoro (National Financial Secretary), Sulaiman Kadade (National Youth Leader), and Setonji Koshoedo (Deputy National Secretary).
The faction then appointed Abdulrahman Mohammed as acting national chairman, claiming its action was necessary to restore “legitimacy and order” within the PDP’s national leadership.
