Police sealed off roads to A-Class Park and Event Centre in Abuja on Saturday morning. The venue was set to host Goodluck Jonathan's ratification as presidential candidate for a breakaway PDP faction.
Security personnel blocked journalists from entering the premises. They told reporters the scheduled event wasn't going ahead.
But the Kabiru Turaki-led PDP faction had other plans. Officials announced they'd moved the convention to another location in Area 10, still within Abuja.
Nigeria's ruling party remains deeply fractured. Two competing factions now claim legitimacy within the PDP structure.
Minister Nyesom Wike's faction has backing from INEC. The independent electoral body recognises his group as the party's authentic leadership.
Despite that, the Turaki camp pushed forward regardless. They insisted the convention would proceed with Jonathan's endorsement as scheduled.
Earlier last week, the Federal Capital Territory Administration had warned event centre owners. FCTA said they should only work with INEC-recognised party officials, not any splinter groups.
Venues faced potential consequences for hosting unauthorised political activities. A blanket directive went out across the territory.
Still, Turaki's team said everything was prepared beforehand. According to them, all logistics were finalised before police arrived to barricade the initial venue.
Photos from Saturday's scene showed heavy security presence around the blocked-off location. Armed officers were stationed at multiple points controlling access to the event centre.
It remains unclear whether the relocated convention went ahead as the faction planned.
