A leadership crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) escalated into chaos on Tuesday as rival factions clashed at the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja, prompting police to fire multiple rounds of tear gas over a three-hour period.

The confrontation forced governors, party officials, staff and journalists to repeatedly flee for safety as tensions over competing leadership claims boiled over.

The standoff began after a faction loyal to Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, led by Abdulrahman Muhammed, scheduled its Board of Trustees (BoT) and National Executive Committee (NEC) meetings for 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. respectively. At nearly the same time, the Kabiru Turaki–led National Working Committee (NWC) fixed its inaugural meeting for 10:00 a.m., setting the stage for a violent showdown.

By mid-morning, Governors Bala Mohammed of Bauchi and Seyi Makinde of Oyo had arrived at the secretariat to join National Chairman Kabiru Turaki, SAN. A confrontation soon erupted inside the NEC hall as supporters of both factions exchanged blows, forcing members of the Turaki-led NWC out of the building.

Police intervened with tear gas, triggering panic across the premises.

Moments later, as Wike’s heavily guarded convoy entered the compound, officers fired additional volleys of tear gas, heightening the confusion. Governors Mohammed and Makinde positioned their vehicles to block Wike’s convoy, intensifying the standoff.

Speaking to journalists amid clouds of tear gas, Governor Bala Mohammed condemned the incident as an assault on opposition figures.

“We are not here to cause trouble. This is our place,” he said. “Imposters expelled by the convention came to cause commotion, and the minister of the FCT is here being backed by the police. Our rights have been violated, and even as governors, we have been molested. Enough is enough.”

National Chairman Kabiru Turaki accused the police of bias, alleging that officers allowed Wike access to the secretariat while blocking legitimate party leaders.

“I warned the FCT Commissioner of Police yesterday that expelled members were planning to disrupt activities,” he said. “Now, the minister—someone declared persona non grata—has been granted entry. They have tear-gassed us, and some of our members have been shot. Democracy is under threat.”

Governor Seyi Makinde described the crisis as a threat to democratic stability.

“This is not about the PDP alone,” he said. “It is about the survival of democracy in Nigeria.”

Meanwhile, Wike remained inside his vehicle throughout the standoff alongside Senator Samuel Anyanwu. Members of his faction dismissed allegations of wrongdoing. PDP chieftain Timothy Osadolor accused the governors of attempting to impose the outcome of an “illegal convention” held in Ibadan, describing their actions as “unprecedented impunity.”

The standoff ended around 2:00 p.m. when Wike’s convoy exited the premises. Governors Mohammed and Makinde, alongside Turaki, inspected the compound before departing at 2:40 p.m. Police fired another round of tear gas as they left, underscoring the heightened tensions.

Tuesday’s confrontation marks one of the most dramatic escalations of the PDP’s internal crisis, raising renewed concerns about political tolerance, police neutrality, and the stability of Nigeria’s foremost opposition party.