PDP crisis deepens as Wike-led faction expels Makinde, Bode George, others
The internal crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) deepened on Tuesday as a faction of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC), aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, announced the expulsion of several top party figures, including Governors Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), and Dauda Lawal (Zamfara). The faction […]
L-R: Former Governor of Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; former Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom; FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike; former Governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu; and National Secretary of the PDP, Sam Anyanwu, during the Eminent leaders and Concerned Stakeholders meeting held at the Minister’s residence on Monday night. Credit: FCT Media
The internal crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) deepened on Tuesday as a faction of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC), aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, announced the expulsion of several top party figures, including Governors Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), and Dauda Lawal (Zamfara).
The faction also declared the expulsion of former Board of Trustees Chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara; former Deputy National Chairman, Chief Bode George; and the recently elected National Chairman, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN.
This escalation follows the weekend’s contentious PDP national convention in Ibadan, where Wike and his allies were themselves expelled by another faction of the party.
The fallout set the stage for Tuesday’s tense standoff at the Wadata Plaza in Abuja, the National Secretariat of the party, where both camps convened parallel NEC and Board of Trustees meetings.
Samuel Anyanwu, National Secretary of the pro-Wike faction, had arrived the Wadata Plaza with some members of the faction.
Shortly after, members of the Taminu Turaki faction also arrived the headquarters but were prevented from going in.
However, two governors forced their way in, but as the other members of the faction tried to make their way in, security operatives fired gunshots and also released teargas to disperse them.
The situation triggered confusion as many scuttled to safety.
During its session at the Wadata Plaza headquarters, the Wike-backed NEC also announced the dissolution of state executive committees in Oyo, Bauchi, Zamfara, Yobe, Lagos, and Ekiti States. It directed that caretaker committees be constituted and fresh congresses conducted in the affected states.
Reading the communiqué issued after the meeting, National Secretary Senator Sam Anyanwu said the factional NEC reviewed a report from Acting National Chairman Hon. Abdulrahman Mohammed.
“NEC received the report of the Acting National Chairman, Hon. Abdulrahman Mohammed, detailing breaches of Articles 58(1) and 59(1), including anti-party activities, disobedience to court orders, and conduct bringing the party into disrepute.
“NEC approved the commencement of disciplinary procedures against the following: Adolphus Wabara, Olabode George, Ben N. Obi, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN, Bala Mohammed, Oluseyi Makinde, Dauda Lawal, Taofiq Arapaja, Setonji Koshoedo, Okechukwu Obiechina Daniel, Woyengikuro Daniel, Mohammed Kadade Suleiman, Emmanuel Ogidi, Sumaila Adamu Burga, Umar Sani, Udom Emmanuel, and Emmanuel Enorden,”the communiqué stated.