The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has condemned the “invasion and violent takeover” of the headquarters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by armed agents, describing it as President Bola Tinubu-led APC’s move to destabilise opposition parties ahead of 2027.

A clash between rival factions of the PDP—one loyal to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and the other to Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde—resulted in the security operatives firing teargas to disperse party members, journalists, and political thugs within the secretariat.

Standing in solidarity with the PDP, the coalition party said the Tinubu administration is an anti-democratic government doing all it can to impose a one-party state on Nigeria.

“If the government could send armed agents to enforce factional control of an opposition headquarters, what stops it from doing the same to labour unions, press organisations, student movements, or peaceful protest groups?” ADC spokesperson Bolaji Abdullahi queried in a statement on Tuesday.

“The ADC therefore views the invasion as another episode, albeit a more sinister one, in the ruling party’s insidious efforts to destabilise opposition parties and undermine Nigeria’s future as a multiparty democracy.”

Mr Abdullahi described the invasion of the PDP secretariat as “a dangerous assault on Nigeria’s democracy, which must be condemned by everyone, regardless of party affiliation.”

According to the ADC spokesperson, the Tinubu-led government has, since its assumption of office, exhibited anti-democratic actions, with the latest—invasion of the PDP secretariat by armed men—representing “a new and dangerous low, even by the already-worrying standards of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration.”

He stated that the development signifies that the government would employ various means, including terror, to pursue its political interests.

Mr Abdullahi urged Nigerians and international partners to engage the government on the need to uphold democratic norms, respect civil liberties, and prevent further descent into authoritarian behaviour.

“As a party, we also demand an independent investigation into the role of the Nigerian Police and other security forces in this disgraceful action.

“We also call on President Bola Tinubu to rein in his political operatives before they send the country into chaos,” he added.

The crisis at the national secretariat degenerated when Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, who doubles as the PDP Governors Forum chairman, and Mr Makinde arrived at the venue, with the main gates padlocked, prompting them to access the party’s premises and leave their motorcades behind.

Mr Wike later arrived at the secretariat and was blocked by the governors’ motorcade. He was able to gain access when security operatives started firing tear gas.

Mr Makinde’s faction had, last Saturday, expelled Mr Wike and 11 others for anti-party activities. In turn, the Wike-led faction, after the chaos on Tuesday, expelled Mr Makinde and the Bauchi governor.

Meanwhile, the FCT police, in a statement by its spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, denied that officers prevented the Bauchi governor from gaining access to the secretariat.

“The entrance to the secretariat was momentarily crowded, and what can be observed in the video are police officers dislodging private security personnel and bouncers who were obstructing the governor’s movement in order to create a safe and unobstructed passage for him ahead of the scheduled Board of Trustees and National Executive Committee meetings.

“At no time were police officers involved in any scuffle, nor did they obstruct the Governor, as falsely portrayed in the circulating video,” Ms Adeh said.