In political crisis, symbols matter—walls, gates, party offices. In Uyo, the capital of Akwa Ibom State, the PDP secretariat became ground zero for a silent but forceful takeover. Security operatives—police, operatives, uniformed men—stormed and assumed control of the premises amid a bitter dispute over who truly leads the State’s PDP.
It’s more than a political fight; it’s a raw power test: which faction claims legitimacy, which ones bring muscle, and whether rule of law or brute force will decide.
When state security is used to effect party change, it’s not only a local drama—it signals erosion of internal democracy, the creeping militarization of party politics, and the danger of institutions becoming tools for factional control.
What Happened
In Akwa Ibom State, security operatives have taken over the PDP Secretariat in Uyo. The move came amid a leadership crisis triggered by conflicting claims over dissolving the State Working Committee (SWC) and installation of a caretaker committee.
The party’s National Working Committee (NWC), through its Publicity Secretary, announced that the SWC had been dissolved and replaced with a 31-member caretaker committee.
In response, the sitting PDP chairman in the state (Àniekan Akpan) declared the purported dissolution illegal, saying no valid NWC meeting endorsed such an action. He insists the existing executive remains valid until their tenure ends.
The security presence was justified by officials as a preventive measure to curb potential violence, chaos or “unauthorized access.”
Multiple media sources confirm the takeover of the secretariat, with security vehicles stationed, barriers deployed and restricted access to party officials.
When Politics Turns Into Force
A party secretariat is not just a building—it’s a throne room for political ambition. Using security operatives to seize it transforms a party dispute into a battlefield.
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If internal democracy is sidelined by external force, the consequence is not merely a local mess—it undercuts the norms of free association, party autonomy, and the idea of politics as contested ideas, not physical control.
For PDP in Akwa Ibom, this moment will be remembered not just for who occupies the office, but for whether the party allows force over process.
And for Nigeria, it’s a warning sign: when institutions are hollowed, the battlefield extends beyond offices into the heart of democracy.
