A former spokesman of the Peoples Democratic Party presidential campaign council, Umar Sani, has described the expulsion of Nyesom Wike and other party figures as “better late than never,”
Umar also stated that the party’s just-concluded national elective convention in Ibadan, Oyo State, was legally compliant.
Speaking with newsmen on Monday, Sani dismissed criticisms that the party acted late in disciplining Wike and others.
He said the party had attempted internal reconciliation through the Ambassador Hassan Adamu Committee, which sought to mediate between the disputing camps.
“We wanted to resolve this as a family, but it became clear there was no way to do so. Wike himself described it as a dispute among family members. One of his conditions was that we agree not to field a presidential candidate in 2027. We cannot wait for a fight to finish; we have to end the fight,” Sani said.
He defended the timing of the disciplinary actions, adding, “The actions we took are better late than never.”
Sani also clarified the confusion over the presence of election observers at the convention.
He recalled that at the event, the master of ceremonies initially introduced certain individuals as INEC officials but the Governor of Bauchi State, Senator Bala Mohammed, corrected the record, stating they were national election observers and not representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission.
“Immediately, I tweeted that the INEC officials are here. Moments later, Bala corrected it, saying these are national election observers. I quickly issued a statement to put out the correct information so I would not be accused of complicity,” Sani said.
He emphasised that INEC’s presence or absence does not validate or invalidate a party convention, noting that the electoral act allows INEC to monitor national conventions but does not make it mandatory.
Sani cited the example of the Labour Party, whose previous convention proceeded without INEC, yet the commission recognised the results following a court order.
He stated that the last court order from Justice A.L. Akintola of the Oyo State High Court gave the party legal leverage to proceed.
The party also expelled several high-profile members, including the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike; suspended National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu; former National Legal Adviser Kamaldeen Ajibade; former Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose; Imo PDP Chairman Austin Nwachukwu; among others over alleged anti-party activities.
The motion for their expulsion was moved by former PDP Deputy National Chairman (South), Bode George, and seconded by the Bauchi State PDP Chairman, Samaila Buga.
Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, who chairs the PDP Governors’ Forum, later put the motion to a voice vote, which delegates overwhelmingly endorsed, signalling the party’s renewed resolve to confront internal dissent and stamp out anti-party conduct within its ranks.
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