Daniel Otera
A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has ratcheted up the party’s internal crisis to a fever pitch, expelling three sitting governors and a host of other senior figures in a sweeping purge.
The factional National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, which held at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja on Tuesday, ratified the expulsion of Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, his Bauchi State counterpart Bala Mohammed, and Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal.
Also shown the exit door were the party’s recently elected National Chairman, Kabiru Turaki, SAN; former Board of Trustees Chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara; and a founding member of the party, Chief Bode George.
The decision comes as a direct retaliation to last Saturday’s national convention in Ibadan, where the camp opposed to Wike had themselves announced the expulsion of the FCT Minister and his key allies. The political tit-for-tat has effectively split the main opposition party into two parallel structures, each claiming legitimacy.
The atmosphere at the Wadata Plaza secretariat was tense on Tuesday as the two factions scheduled rival NEC and Board of Trustees meetings, leading to a standoff. The Wike-led group proceeded with its session, from which a communiqué detailing the mass expulsion was read by the faction’s National Secretary, Senator Sam Anyanwu.
“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,” Anyanwu stated, reading from the communiqué.
“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…”
In a further move to consolidate control, the faction also announced the immediate dissolution of the party’s executive councils in six states: Oyo, Bauchi, Zamfara, Yobe, Lagos, and Ekiti. The NEC directed the constitution of caretaker committees to oversee the party’s affairs in these states and called for fresh congresses to elect new leadership.
Read Also: Nigeria’s Path to Revenue Growth Lies in Hitting Its OPEC Quota
A prominent member of the Wike camp, who spoke on condition of anonymity, framed the action as a necessary cleansing. “You cannot have a party where discipline is dead. These individuals have consistently engaged in actions meant to undermine the party. Today, we are simply enforcing our constitution,” the source said.
However, a staunch supporter of Governor Makinde described the expulsions as “a comedy of errors staged by political undertakers.” He added, “How can a group of people who have been expelled by the legitimate organs of the party turn around to expel others? It is the height of political rascality and holds no weight.”
Political analysts have described the situation as one of the most severe crises ever to hit the PDP, warning that the deepening rift could permanently cripple its ability to function as a viable opposition to the ruling All Progressives Congress.
As things stand, the battle for the soul of the PDP has moved from cold hostilities to a direct and open confrontation, with both factions digging in for a protracted political war.