PDP crisis: Even if it takes our lives, we’ve take over Wadata Plaza – Taminu Turaki declares

Taminu Turaki, the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has declared that his faction has taken over the party’s national secretariat.

He stated this while addressing the press after he and Governors Seyi Makinde of Oyo and Bala Mohammed of Bauchi forced their way into the PDP National Executive Committee meeting hall on Tuesday.

DAILY POST reported earlier that there was tension at the headquarters of the PDP in Abuja over attempts to hold parallel meetings.

The National Working Committee (NWC) elected in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, on Saturday and the faction backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, had fixed meetings for Tuesday.

Samuel Anyanwu, National Secretary of the pro-Wike faction, had arrived at Wadata Plaza with some members of the faction.

Shortly afterward, members of the Taminu Turaki faction arrived at the party headquarters but were blocked from entering.

Turaki said, “And we will do everything to ensure that democracy survives, even if it means that we pay with our lives.

“Even if it means we have to make an appeal to the international community to come and assist us to rescue this democracy, we will not fail to do that. I want to call on Nigerians to stand up.

“There is a serious threat to democracy in this country. As soon as democracy crumbles, then that will be the end of this country, God forbid. But for us in the PDP, I have said it, and I want to say it quite emphatically, that if it means that we lay down our lives for democracy to thrive and survive in Nigeria, we are prepared to do that.

“In spite of the tear gas that these other elements… because this is not police tear gas. I don’t know how they procured this tear gas and they are spraying it on us, but that has not, and will never, deter us.

“I want to assure you that we have taken over our office, and we will continue to give leadership and direction to this party from our national headquarters, which is Wadata Plaza.”