The faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by Kabiru Turaki (SAN) has filed a motion in the Federal High Court in Abuja. They are seeking an order that would require the Inspector-General of Police and the Nigeria Police Force to immediately unseal and clear the party’s national secretariat, along with other offices nationwide.
The request follows the sealing of the PDP national secretariat in November due to clashes between rival factions — one headed by Turaki and the other by Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. Tensions escalated when both factions attempted to hold simultaneous meetings at the party headquarters, leading to police intervention that included tear gas deployment and the subsequent sealing of the premises.
Turaki, who was elected as the national chairman at a convention in Ibadan, Oyo State, faced opposition from the Wike-aligned faction, which claimed that the convention violated existing court orders restraining such activities.
Now, the motion, filed by the plaintiffs through lead counsel Chief Chris Uche (SAN), seeks not only the unsealing of the headquarters but also a broader order that prevents further police interference with any of the party’s offices in the 36 states, including its annexes in Abuja.
The plaintiffs argue that the police acted unlawfully when they sealed the secretariat and have hampered the party’s operations significantly. In support of their motion, an affidavit from the PDP national secretary, Taofik Arapaja, outlined how the police’s actions disrupted administrative coordination and policy formulation within the party.
They asserted that the police should remain impartial entities, noting that the continuing obstruction has far-reaching implications on the party’s functioning and must be addressed urgently to uphold justice and transparency.
The court is expected to make determinations on the matter, emphasizing the importance of fairness in governance and the operations of political parties within Nigeria.
