Why We Sealed Off PDP National Secretariat – Police

PDP-Headquarters sealedThe police has explained its decision to seal off the national secretariat of the main opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on Sunday.
According to a statement issued Monday by the Force Public Relations Officer, Olabisi Kolawole, the police received intelligence that “some aggrieved factional leaders and members of the Peoples Democratic Party have perfected plans to engage thugs from across the country to join them in threatening public peace and security in Abuja”.
Our correspondent reports that the former ruling party is currently divided with three different groups laying claim to the control of the national leadership of the party. They are the deposed Ali Modu Sheriff group, the caretaker committee group led by Ahmed Makarfi and the Concerned PDP Stakeholders led by Prof. Jerry Gana.
The existing leadership tussle resulted in the taking over of the Wadata Plaza, headquarters of the PDP in Abuja by armed policemen yesterday.
“The plan of the brains behind this development is to infiltrate Abuja and attack the National Headquarters of the Peoples’ Democratic Party with intent to forcefully occupy the facility”, the police headquarters said in the statement.
Ms. Kolawole said “credible sources” have informed the police that protesters would be mobilised into Abuja from today, May 23, and that they plan to march through major streets in the FCT, before marching on the PDP national headquarters.
“The Inspector-General of Police has directed the deployment of Police assets to secure the PDP Secretariat and protect the staff until the threat to internal security that is being occasioned by the intra-party crisis within the PDP is stabilized”, she said.
“The police action is a proactive initiative which is being emplaced in furtherance to the statutory mandate of the Nigeria Police to prevent breakdown in law and order and protect lives and property.
“The Inspector General of Police warns all actors in the crisis as well as their loyalists to refrain from any act that may threaten public order as the Police shall deal promptly, firmly and decisively with such persons or group in line with their legal obligations”.