A factional gathering of the Peoples Democratic Party (Peoples Democratic Party) led by Kabiru Turaki was on Saturday thrown into chaos in Abuja after suspected thugs attacked the venue following the ratification of former President Goodluck Jonathan as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.
The meeting, organised by the Turaki-led Interim National Working Committee (NWC), initially held at the faction’s Area 10 office before moving from the A-Class Event Centre, where security operatives had reportedly restricted access.
During the brief convention, the group confirmed the nomination of Goodluck Jonathan as its presidential flagbearer for 2027.
After the ratification, party leaders later returned to the A-Class Event Centre for what they described as an engagement with police officers stationed at the location.
However, tensions escalated shortly after Turaki concluded his remarks. Eyewitnesses said suspected hoodlums arrived in two coaster buses, armed with sticks, and suddenly attacked party officials as they were leaving the venue.
The assault forced delegates, journalists, and other participants to flee for safety, with a journalist reportedly losing a mobile phone during the chaos. Security operatives later intervened and restored calm at the scene.
Before the incident, Turaki—Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN)—had insisted that the group was exercising its constitutional right to association and assembly. He stressed that the faction would not resort to violence, but would instead pursue its political battles through elections.
He urged party members to remain peaceful, resist provocation, and focus on electoral victory, saying the group was confident of success at the polls.
