November 18, (THEWILL) — The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) deepened on Tuesday as the factional National Executive Committee (NEC) loyal to Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, ratified the expulsion of three serving governors and several senior party figures during a tense meeting at the party’s national secretariat, Wadata Plaza, Abuja.
The expelled governors are Oyo State’s Seyi Makinde, Bauchi State’s Bala Mohammed, and Zamfara State’s Dauda Lawal. Other notable figures affected include former Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT), Senator Adolphus Wabara; former Deputy National Chairman, Chief Bode George; and Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN, the recently elected National Chairman from last Saturday’s Ibadan convention.
The moves come just days after the PDP’s national convention in Ibadan, which expelled Wike and his loyalists. The Wike-backed faction has rejected the Ibadan convention, escalating tensions and plunging the party into further internal turmoil.
The widening rift erupted into a dramatic showdown at Wadata Plaza on Tuesday as both factions attempted to hold parallel NEC and BoT meetings. Security operatives were deployed to prevent clashes as supporters from both sides exchanged accusations.
In a further shake-up, the Wike-aligned NEC dissolved the PDP state executive councils in Oyo, Bauchi, Zamfara, Yobe, Lagos, and Ekiti States. Caretaker committees are to be immediately constituted, and fresh congresses conducted to rebuild party structures in the affected states.
A communiqué read by the faction’s National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, stated that the decisions followed a report submitted by factional Acting National Chairman, Abdulrahman Mohammed, citing alleged violations of Articles 58(1) and 59(1) of the PDP Constitution. The offences included anti-party activities, disobedience to valid court orders, and conduct deemed capable of bringing the party into disrepute.
The NEC also approved the commencement of disciplinary procedures against several senior party members, including 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 developments signal a prolonged power struggle within the PDP, with both factions staking claims to the party’s leadership ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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