The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Umar Damagum, has written a petition to Kayode Egbetokun, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), alleging that Samuel Anyanwu, the suspended National Secretary, led thugs to invade the party’s national secretariat.
In the petition dated October 3, Damagum claimed that Anyanwu and his associates attempted to forcefully seize control of the secretariat and install a factional leadership.
He further accused several suspended party officials — Abdulrahman Mohammed, Vice-Chairman for the North Central Zone; Kamaldeen Ajibade, National Legal Adviser; Okechukwu Osuoha, Deputy Legal Adviser; and Umaru Bature, National Organising Secretary — of being part of the alleged plot.
According to Damagum, the move to impose a parallel leadership was backed by Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
“To our utmost surprise and shock, on Monday, November 3rd, 2025, the suspended Sen. Samuel Anyanwu violently invaded the National Secretariat of our Party, with thugs mobilized by his Personal Aides Arthur Bruno, Emmanuel Okoronkwo and one Chidiebere Egwu brandishing dangerous weapons including guns, knives, cutlasses and sticks with which they broke into offices, unleashed violence, attacked, fired tear gas, wounded our staff, assaulted journalists and disrupted activities in our National Secretariat,” the letter reads.
Damagum said the attackers attempted to install Abdulrahman Mohammed as acting national chairman after breaking into his office, while several staff members were injured.
“A female staff member who could not withstand the teargas suffocated and was later resuscitated. The thugs forcefully broke into the office of the National Chairman and attempted to install the said Abdulrahman Mohammed as the acting National Chairman of our Party.
Currently, three of the staff are in the hospital receiving treatments for various degrees of injuries inflicted on them by the thugs. The staff in the hospital are: Mr Terna Tergba, Mrs Cecilia Ukwayi and Innocent Ezekiel.”
He alleged that the “armed thugs” threatened members of the National Working Committee (NWC) and accused the FCT police of failing to prevent the attack.
Efforts to get Anyanwu’s reaction on Wednesday were unsuccessful, as he declined to comment.
Background
On Monday, Abdulrahman Mohammed declared himself the PDP Acting National Chairman at the party’s headquarters, accompanied by loyalists who called for Damagum’s resignation.
Leadership Tussle
A few days earlier, the PDP NWC led by Damagum had suspended Anyanwu, Ajibade, Osuoha, and Bature over alleged anti-party activities.
Debo Ologunagba, the party’s spokesperson, announced the suspension after an emergency NWC meeting in Abuja.
In response, Anyanwu’s faction — reportedly supported by Wike — suspended Damagum, 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 chairman, claiming the move was necessary to restore legitimacy and stability within the party’s leadership.