The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, over what it described as a “forceful and violent invasion” of its National Secretariat in Abuja allegedly carried out by thugs loyal to its suspended National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, allegedly with the active support of some police officers attached to the Federal Capital Territory Command.
In the petition dated November 3, 2025, and signed by the party’s Acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum, the PDP accused Anyanwu and the suspended Deputy National Legal Adviser, Barrister Okechukwu Osuoha, of leading an attack on staff and journalists at the Wadata Plaza headquarters.
The party alleged that the operation was aided by the FCT Commissioner of Police under the influence of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
According to the PDP petition, armed men reportedly mobilized by Anyanwu’s personal aides, identified as Arthur Bruno, Emmanuel Okoronkwo, and Chidiebere Egwu, stormed the secretariat, brandishing guns, knives, and cutlasses.
The party said the intruders were said to have unleashed violence, fired tear gas, and injured several staff members. A female staff was reported to have collapsed after inhaling tear gas before she was resuscitated.
The document further alleged that the attackers broke into the office of the National Chairman and attempted to install a factional acting chairman, Mohammed Abdulrahman.
Three staff members namely Terna Tergba, Cecilia Ukwayi, and Innocent Ezekiel, were said to be hospitalized as a result of injuries sustained during the invasion.
The party expressed shock that police officers allegedly accompanied the thugs and did nothing to stop the violence. “Why on earth will the police teargas staff who are performing their legitimate duties in the office?” the petition queried.
The party in the petition also claimed that Senator Anyanwu was overheard assuring his aides that both the FCT Minister and the Police Commissioner were in support of the action, a development the PDP described as a grave assault on democracy and a clear attempt to intimidate opposition voices.
Damagum urged the IGP to investigate what he termed a “breach of peace in the FCT, threat to life, and assault on innocent citizens,” insisting that those involved, including the FCT Minister, the Police Commissioner, Anyanwu, and Abdulrahman, should be held directly responsible.
The party warned that the incident, if left unchecked, could further damage Nigeria’s democratic reputation before the international community.
“The country is already under close watch globally, and this unwarranted assault on the opposition party and its staff further aggravates a very tense situation,” the letter concluded.
The PDP said it had attached photo and video evidence of the incident to the petition and thanked the IGP for his “continuous efforts in ensuring the security of our dear nation.”