The Nigeria Police have said the sealed national secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja will not be reopened until peace is restored within the party.
The police made it clear that the Watada Plaza office will only be unsealed after the warring factions resolve their internal dispute and formally notify security authorities of their agreement.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory Police Commissioner, Miller Dantawaye, explained that the police are still not satisfied that the crisis within the party has been settled.
According to him, the decision to keep the building closed was taken to prevent a repeat of violence that previously broke out at the secretariat.
The PDP national secretariat was shut down on November 19 last year following a violent clash between rival groups within the party. During the incident, police officers were forced to deploy teargas to control the situation as supporters of both sides struggled to gain control of the premises.
Barbed wire was later mounted around the building as part of security measures to stop further breakdown of law and order.
Dantawaye disclosed that the police have since received messages from both camps asking that the office remain sealed until their grievances are addressed.
He said the police would not act until there is clear evidence that the dispute has been fully resolved.
“They had an issue there and I’m sure you are aware of what prompted us (police) to lock the place.
“Both sides are saying, don’t open. They want justice. So, when they resolve their issues, I’m sure they will tell us (Police).”
The crisis involves two rival factions of the party in the Federal Capital Territory. One group is led by Taminu Turaki, while the other is headed by Abdulrahaman Mohammed. Both factions are currently operating from separate locations in Abuja.
The police commissioner stressed that reopening the secretariat without a genuine truce could lead to renewed violence, which security agencies are determined to prevent.
Moreover, he added that the responsibility now lies with the party leaders to put their house in order before normal activities can resume at the national headquarters.
0 Comments