By Peter Omopo
Abuja — The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took a dramatic turn on Tuesday as a faction of the party loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, announced the expulsion of Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde; Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed; and Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal.
The faction also expelled former Board of Trustees Chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara; former Minister Kabiru Tanimu Turaki; and the party’s Deputy National Chairman (South), Taofeek Arapaja, among several others, accusing them of anti-party activities.
The development followed violent clashes earlier in the day between two rival factions at the PDP national secretariat in Abuja, where both sides attempted to assert control of the party’s headquarters.
According to the communiqué issued after the 103rd National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the Wike-backed faction, the party also ratified the dissolution of the State Executive Councils in Bauchi, Oyo, Zamfara, Yobe, Lagos, Edo, and Ekiti States.
Announcing the expulsions, the Acting National Chairman, Mohammed Abdulrahman, said the affected members had consistently disregarded subsisting court orders and engaged in actions that “brought the party into disrepute.”
He told NEC members that breaches of Articles 58(1) and 59(1) of the PDP Constitution — including anti-party conduct, defiance of judicial directives, and participation in an “unauthorized convention” — left the party with no option but to impose disciplinary measures.
Reading the NEC communiqué, National Secretary Senator Samuel Anyanwu said the party leadership was compelled to act in order to restore “unity, stability, and constitutional order” at a time Nigerians were looking to the PDP for leadership.
The communiqué stated:
- NEC expressed concern that some members violated court orders by organizing and attending an unauthorized convention, triggering confusion, factionalisation, and the defection of governors and lawmakers nationwide.
- It reaffirmed that the PDP derives its legitimacy from strict adherence to its constitution and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
- The party leadership vowed to enforce discipline and uphold internal democracy.
The expulsions are the latest escalation in the bitter contest for control of the opposition party, with fears growing that the deepening division could further weaken the PDP ahead of future political contests.
