As the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) intensifies preparations for its forthcoming Abuja National Convention, fresh controversy has erupted over plans to reopen the party’s national secretariat, Wadata Plaza, Abuja, amid subsisting court cases and rival claims of authority.

The Abdulrahman Mohammed–led National Caretaker Committee on Thursday announced that the sealed secretariat would be reopened on Monday, dismissing claims that legal impediments remain against resuming activities at the party headquarters.

The declaration followed the party’s participation in the Independent Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) quarterly consultative meeting with leaders of political parties in Abuja, where the Mohammed-led group represented the PDP.

However, the announcement has drawn sharp pushback from another faction of the party, which insists that the national secretariat remains a subject of pending litigation and warned against what it described as a resort to self-help.

In a press statement issued on Thursday, the Kabiru Turaki -led PDP National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, said the party had received intelligence indicating plans by “expelled members” to forcibly access and occupy the national secretariat, allegedly in connivance with security agencies.

Ememobong disclosed that the party had written to the Inspector General of Police and the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, reminding them that the secretariat is still res before the Federal High Court, Abuja, and the Court of Appeal.

According to him, any attempt to grant access to the property while the matter remains before the courts would amount to contempt and undermine the authority of the judiciary.

“The case pending before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik was instituted by the expelled members themselves. They cannot resort to self-help until judgment is delivered,” the statement said, warning that the party would deploy all legal means to protect its property from trespass.

But in a swift rebuttal, a group describing itself as Concerned Stakeholders of the PDP dismissed the statement as alarmist and lacking legal foundation, arguing that no individual or faction possesses the authority to interpret court processes for the entire party.

The stakeholders contended that multiple suits and appeals subsist over the PDP leadership crisis and accused the opposing camp of selectively elevating litigation that favours its interests.

They maintained that the PDP, as a national political institution with an impending convention less than two months away, cannot afford a prolonged administrative shutdown of its headquarters.

“If relevant statutory authorities and security agencies, acting within the law, allow access to the national secretariat for legitimate party activities, such a decision is not subject to the veto of any self-styled faction,” the statement said.

Meanwhile, speaking after the INEC meeting, Acting National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, insisted that there was no faction within the PDP and that the party is firmly under the control of the National Caretaker Committee.

Anyanwu recalled that the secretariat was sealed by the police on November 19, 2025, following clashes between rival party groups, but said attempts by the opposing faction to compel its reopening through the courts had failed.

“We wrote to the police. The other group went to court to ask that the place be opened. The matter was dismissed because they had no locus. So by Monday, we are taking over the office,” he said.

He further cited a recent ruling of the Federal High Court in Ibadan, which nullified the disputed PDP convention of November 15 and 16, 2025, insisting that no other body has the mandate to administer the party outside the Mohammed-led caretaker committee.

Anyanwu expressed confidence that normalcy had returned to the PDP and assured members that the party would field candidates in all forthcoming elections, including the February 18 FCT Area Council polls.

“We are going to fast-track everything. Old hands who have managed this party for over 25 years are still involved, and we are ready to move forward,” he said.