₦airaland Forum

The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party escalated on Saturday following the expulsion of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and 10 other high-ranking leaders over alleged anti-party activities.

The decision was taken at the PDP’s 20th National Convention at the main bowl of the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

Those also expelled include a former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose; the party’s National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu; the National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade; and Austin Nwachukwu.

Others are the factional chairman of the party, Mohammed Abdulrahman; Senator Mao Ohuabunwa; Austine Nwachukwu; Abraham Amah; George Turner; and Chief Dan Orbih.

A motion for the expulsion was moved by the former National Vice Chairman of the party (South), Chief Olabode George, and seconded by the Bauchi PDP Chairman, Samaila Burga, before its eventual adoption by the party’s delegates.

At the convention, the delegates also unanimously confirmed Umaru Damagum as the substantive National Chairman of the party.

The convention sparked divisions among the governors loyal to Damagum, as two of them—Governor Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State, who chaired the National Organising Committee of the convention, and the Governor of Plateau State, Caleb Mutfwang—dissociated themselves from Wike’s expulsion.

The battle before convention

The PDP has been engulfed in crises in recent months, with factions loyal to Wike and Damagum clashing over control of the party’s structure.

This culminated in a bitter confrontation before the convention.

Ahead of the convention, former Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido, approached the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking justice after being denied the opportunity to purchase the PDP national chairmanship nomination form.

On Friday, Justice Peter Lifu ordered the party to suspend the convention.

He also restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission from supervising, monitoring, or recognising any convention conducted by the PDP that did not include Lamido as a contestant.

Justice Lifu held that evidence before the court showed that Lamido had been denied the opportunity to obtain a nomination form to contest for the position of National Chairman.

Recall that on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, Justice Lifu delivered a similar ruling restraining the PDP from holding the convention, which was intended to elect new national officers to lead the party.

Lamido, through his counsel, Jephthah Njikonye, SAN, had filed an ex parte motion seeking an interim injunction to halt the convention pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

In his ruling, Justice Lifu held that the plaintiff’s application had merit and consequently restrained the PDP from convening the event until the substantive matter before the court was resolved.

He noted that there was no reason to depart from an earlier ruling by Justice James Omotosho of the same court on October 31, 2025, which similarly halted the convention.

However, in a conflicting order, the Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan on November 3 permitted the PDP to proceed with the convention.

Justice Ladiran Akintola, ruling on an ex parte application filed by an Oyo PDP member, Mr Folahan Adelabi, directed INEC to attend and monitor the convention for the election of new national officers.

The Damagum camp went ahead with the programme, claiming no knowledge of Justice Lifu’s Friday order.

Wike, others expelled over anti-party activities— PDP

Announcing the expulsion of Wike and other high-profile members via X on Saturday, the PDP said the decision was ratified by the majority of delegates at the convention.

The party explained that the move underscored its commitment to eradicating internal divisions and anti-party conduct that have hindered its progress.

Citing Articles 10(6) and 58(1)(b), (c), (f), (i), (j), (l), as well as 59(1)(g) of its 2017 Constitution (as amended), the PDP argued that the National Convention remains supreme in all matters relating to the party, including issues of discipline involving its officers and members.

Speaking with Sunday PUNCH after the announcement, the South-West PDP Chairman, Kamorudeen Ajisafe, said the expulsion was long overdue.

“Wike and others were suspended for anti-party activities,” Ajisafe said.

“They wanted to destroy the party, and we cannot allow that to happen.”

He, however, clarified that Lamido was not included in the expulsion despite his series of court moves to stop the convention.

“Lamido isn’t in Wike’s category. He is a respected PDP leader,” Ajisafe stated.

“He is just angry that he wasn’t allowed to purchase the nomination form to contest the PDP chairmanship, as he showed interest after the closure of the timeframe for such. We will resolve issues with him.”

The Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, dismissed the convention as mere drama.

Olayinka, via X, argued that no one should take the organisers seriously.

“They went to Ibadan to start dirty December in November. When people decide to start their own dirty December in November, one can’t but ignore whatever comes out of their mouths,” he wrote.

“They gathered in Ibadan to do social party, enjoyed themselves and got intoxicated. They are free to say anything.”

Governors revolt against Wike’s expulsion

Governor Fintiri dissociated himself from Wike’s expulsion.

Fintiri, while delivering his speech at the convention ground, said the absence of INEC officials at the event also necessitated his withdrawal from the exercise.

“With the absence of INEC and the various litigations for and against this convention, it is not within my prerogative to continue with this exercise. I leave the convention delegates to decide,” Fintiri said.

The Adamawa governor further clarified his position in a statement shared on his verified X handle (@AhmaduUmaruFintiri).

The Adamawa governor further clarified his position in a statement shared on his verified X handle (@AhmaduUmaruFintiri).

He described Wike’s expulsion as an action against the interest of the party and warned that it could plunge the PDP into an unending crisis.

Fintiri urged party members to work towards unity and the reconciliation of aggrieved members.

Fareke:
The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party escalated on Saturday following the expulsion of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and 10 other high-ranking leaders over alleged anti-party activities.

The decision was taken at the PDP’s 20th National Convention at the main bowl of the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

Those also expelled include a former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose; the party’s National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu; the National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade; and Austin Nwachukwu.

Others are the factional chairman of the party, Mohammed Abdulrahman; Senator Mao Ohuabunwa; Austine Nwachukwu; Abraham Amah; George Turner; and Chief Dan Orbih.

A motion for the expulsion was moved by the former National Vice Chairman of the party (South), Chief Olabode George, and seconded by the Bauchi PDP Chairman, Samaila Burga, before its eventual adoption by the party’s delegates.

At the convention, the delegates also unanimously confirmed Umaru Damagum as the substantive National Chairman of the party.

The convention sparked divisions among the governors loyal to Damagum, as two of them—Governor Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State, who chaired the National Organising Committee of the convention, and the Governor of Plateau State, Caleb Mutfwang—dissociated themselves from Wike’s expulsion.

The battle before convention

The PDP has been engulfed in crises in recent months, with factions loyal to Wike and Damagum clashing over control of the party’s structure.

This culminated in a bitter confrontation before the convention.

Ahead of the convention, former Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido, approached the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking justice after being denied the opportunity to purchase the PDP national chairmanship nomination form.

On Friday, Justice Peter Lifu ordered the party to suspend the convention.

He also restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission from supervising, monitoring, or recognising any convention conducted by the PDP that did not include Lamido as a contestant.

Justice Lifu held that evidence before the court showed that Lamido had been denied the opportunity to obtain a nomination form to contest for the position of National Chairman.

Recall that on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, Justice Lifu delivered a similar ruling restraining the PDP from holding the convention, which was intended to elect new national officers to lead the party.

Lamido, through his counsel, Jephthah Njikonye, SAN, had filed an ex parte motion seeking an interim injunction to halt the convention pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

In his ruling, Justice Lifu held that the plaintiff’s application had merit and consequently restrained the PDP from convening the event until the substantive matter before the court was resolved.

He noted that there was no reason to depart from an earlier ruling by Justice James Omotosho of the same court on October 31, 2025, which similarly halted the convention.

However, in a conflicting order, the Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan on November 3 permitted the PDP to proceed with the convention.

Justice Ladiran Akintola, ruling on an ex parte application filed by an Oyo PDP member, Mr Folahan Adelabi, directed INEC to attend and monitor the convention for the election of new national officers.

The Damagum camp went ahead with the programme, claiming no knowledge of Justice Lifu’s Friday order.

Wike, others expelled over anti-party activities— PDP

Announcing the expulsion of Wike and other high-profile members via X on Saturday, the PDP said the decision was ratified by the majority of delegates at the convention.

The party explained that the move underscored its commitment to eradicating internal divisions and anti-party conduct that have hindered its progress.

Citing Articles 10(6) and 58(1)(b), (c), (f), (i), (j), (l), as well as 59(1)(g) of its 2017 Constitution (as amended), the PDP argued that the National Convention remains supreme in all matters relating to the party, including issues of discipline involving its officers and members.

Speaking with Sunday PUNCH after the announcement, the South-West PDP Chairman, Kamorudeen Ajisafe, said the expulsion was long overdue.

“Wike and others were suspended for anti-party activities,” Ajisafe said.

“They wanted to destroy the party, and we cannot allow that to happen.”

He, however, clarified that Lamido was not included in the expulsion despite his series of court moves to stop the convention.

“Lamido isn’t in Wike’s category. He is a respected PDP leader,” Ajisafe stated.

“He is just angry that he wasn’t allowed to purchase the nomination form to contest the PDP chairmanship, as he showed interest after the closure of the timeframe for such. We will resolve issues with him.”

The Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, dismissed the convention as mere drama.

Olayinka, via X, argued that no one should take the organisers seriously.

“They went to Ibadan to start dirty December in November. When people decide to start their own dirty December in November, one can’t but ignore whatever comes out of their mouths,” he wrote.

“They gathered in Ibadan to do social party, enjoyed themselves and got intoxicated. They are free to say anything.”

Govs revolt against Wike’s expulsion

Governor Fintiri dissociated himself from Wike’s expulsion.

Fintiri, while delivering his speech at the convention ground, said the absence of INEC officials at the event also necessitated his withdrawal from the exercise.

“With the absence of INEC and the various litigations for and against this convention, it is not within my prerogative to continue with this exercise. I leave the convention delegates to decide,” Fintiri said.

The Adamawa governor further clarified his position in a statement shared on his verified X handle (@AhmaduUmaruFintiri).

The Adamawa governor further clarified his position in a statement shared on his verified X handle (@AhmaduUmaruFintiri).

He described Wike’s expulsion as an action against the interest of the party and warned that it could plunge the PDP into an unending crisis.

Fintiri urged party members to work towards unity and the reconciliation of aggrieved members.

https://punchng.com/govs-revolt-as-wikes-expulsion-breaks-pdp/

yinkus6750:
Was that a convention ?
When INEC was not present.
Bode George keeps embarrassing his old age.
Why was Atikus Name and his other ADC members not included ?
So sad, PDP is DEAD.
All suspended member now form a parallel party. And litigation continues in a pre election season.

IGBOPROMISE1:
The way you people like taking liberties with editorialising reports just so you can give the impression that PDP are still divided and factionalised! How did two lilly-livered governors saying they were not part of the decision to rightfully expel the moles and turncoats in the party now become ‘revolt’!?

yinkus6750:
Was that a convention ?
When INEC was not present.
Bode George keeps embarrassing his old age.
Why was Atikus Name and his other ADC members not included ?
So sad, PDP is DEAD.
All suspended member now form a parallel party. And litigation continues in a pre election season.

yinkus6750:
Was that a convention ?
When INEC was not present.
Bode George keeps embarrassing his old age.
Why was Atikus Name and his other ADC members not included ?
So sad, PDP is DEAD.
All suspended member now form a parallel party. And litigation continues in a pre election season.

yarimo:
Oyo state governor decided to waste tax payers money just to organize end of the year party to some people.

yarimo:
Oyo state governor decided to waste tax payers money just to organize end of the year party to some people.

yarimo:
Oyo state governor decided to waste tax payers money just to organize end of the year party to some people.

oyichi:
you wlll be shocked when you finally discover that inec was actually there, you think that the pdp are fools?

Fareke:
https://punchng.com/govs-revolt-as-wikes-expulsion-breaks-pdp/

Fareke:
https://punchng.com/govs-revolt-as-wikes-expulsion-breaks-pdp/

yinkus6750:
Was that a convention ?
When INEC was not present.
Bode George keeps embarrassing his old age.
Why was Atikus Name and his other ADC members not included ?
So sad, PDP is DEAD.
All suspended member now form a parallel party. And litigation continues in a pre election season.

Kukutente23:
It's better!
Let those who want to go, go and let those who want to remain, remain
You can't be killing an organisation and people will be supporting you
If you no longer want to be with them, leave