Following the expulsion of Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike and ten other senior leaders due to alleged anti-party conduct, the Peoples Democratic Party’s(PDP) crisis intensified on Saturday.
The decision was made during the PDP’s 20th National Convention, which took place in the main bowl of Lekan Salami Stadium in Adamasingba, Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State.
Ayodele Fayose, a former governor of Ekiti State; Senator Samuel Anyanwu, the party’s national secretary; Kamaldeen Ajibade, the national legal adviser; and Austin Nwachukwu were also expelled.
Others are the factional chairman of the party, Mohammed Abdulrahman; Senator Mao Ohuabunwa; Austine Nwachukwu; Abraham Amah; George Turner; and Chief Dan Orbih.
Chief Olabode George, the former National Vice Chairman of the party (South), made the the motion for expulsion, which was later approved by the party’s delegates after being seconded by Samaila Burga, the Chairman of the Bauchi PDP.
Two of the governors who supported Damagum, Governor Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State, who chaired the convention’s National Organising Committee, and Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State, distanced themselves from Wike’s expulsion as a result of the convention.
The battle before convention
In recent months, the PDP has been plagued by problems as groups loyal to Wike and Damagum have fought for control of the party’s organisational structure.
This resulted in a heated altercation before to the convention.
Sule Lamido, a former governor of Jigawa State, sought justice from the Federal High Court in Abuja before to the convention after being refused the chance to acquire the PDP national chairperson nomination form.
Justice Peter Lifu gave the party an order to halt the convention on Friday.
Additionally, he prohibited the Independent National Electoral Commission from overseeing, observing, or approving any PDP convention in which Lamido was not a contestant.
According to evidence presented to the court, Lamido was not given the chance to submit a nomination form to run for National Chairman, according to Justice Lifu.
Govs revolt against Wike’s expulsion
Governor Fintiri has distanced himself from Wike’s expulsion.
During his statement at the convention field, Fintiri stated that he had to withdraw from the exercise since INEC officials were not there.
“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.
In a statement posted on his verified X handle (@AhmaduUmaruFintiri), the governor of Adamawa further explained his stance.
He cautioned that Wike’s expulsion might put the PDP in a never-ending crisis and characterised it as an action against the party’s interests.
Fintiri exhorted party members to strive for harmony and the peacemaking of disgruntled members.
He noted that his position was informed by the desire for peace and stability within the party.
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“I urge all stakeholders to work towards healing the divisions within the party and to strive for unity and cohesion. As a party man, I am committed to supporting efforts that promote peace, stability, and progress within the PDP,” he wrote.
Similaarly, Mutfwang, the governor of Plateau State, also disassociated himself from the contentious expulsion, claiming that neither the PDP Governors’ Forum nor the party’s National Executive Council had addressed the matter before to its presentation.
He insisted that his stance on the issue was not reflected in the proposal.
Mutfwang further noted that dismissing party leaders at this crucial juncture was not a smart way to deal with the PDP’s internal problems.
Other expelled leaders hit back
Amah and Turner, two additional party leaders who were expelled, also objected to the party’s action, calling it illegal, flawed in procedure, and against ongoing court orders.
Amah, the PDP chairman in Abia State, described the convention as “an aberration” in light of the ongoing legal proceedings in an interview on Sunday.
“We have a matter in court and it has moved to the Appeal Court. So, it is against the spirit of the law and the constitution for them to go ahead to do what they had done. We are not part of what they have done,” he said.
He said, “It is a game of democracy. We have 17 local governments; four chairmen are there while 13 are not. We have 14 members of the state working committee; only five are there. Some people went there because of the money they want to collect.”
Amah further faulted the dissolution of the Abia and Imo PDP executives at the event, arguing that those whose structures were dissolved could not validly participate.
Turner, the Secretary of the PDP in the South-South Zone, also dismissed the gathering as a social event.
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