The internal crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) escalated sharply on Tuesday as the faction of the National Executive Committee (NEC) loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, approved the expulsion of key party leaders, including Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, and Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal.
Also expelled were former Board of Trustees Chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara; former National Vice Chairman, Bode George; and the party’s newly elected National Chairman, Kabiru Turaki, SAN.
The decision comes barely days after the controversial PDP national convention held in Ibadan on Saturday, where Wike and his group were themselves expelled, deepening the party’s factional divide.
Tensions boiled over at the PDP national secretariat in Wadata Plaza, Abuja, on Tuesday, as both factions arrived for parallel NEC and Board of Trustees meetings, resulting in heated confrontations.
During its Abuja meeting, the Wike-backed NEC further dissolved the state executive councils in Oyo, Bauchi, Zamfara, Yobe, Lagos, and Ekiti States, ordering caretaker committees and new congresses.
Reading the communiqué, National Secretary Senator Sam Anyanwu said, “NEC received the report of the Acting National Chairman, Hon. Abdulrahman Mohammed, detailing violations of Articles 58(1) and 59(1), including anti-party activities, disregard for court orders, and actions bringing the party into disrepute.”
The NEC also commenced disciplinary action against several high-ranking members, including Wabara, George, Ben Obi, Turaki, Makinde, Bala Mohammed, Dauda Lawal, and others listed in the communiqué.
