The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expelled former governor and current FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, factional national chairman, Samuel Anyanwu, and former Ekiti State governor, Ayo Fayose, over alleged anti-party activities.
The motion for their expulsion was moved by the former National Vice Chairman (South), Olabode George, and unanimously adopted by delegates at the PDP National Convention holding in Ibadan, Oyo State. Hon. Samaila Burga, Chairman of the PDP in Bauchi State, seconded the motion.
The expelled leaders belong to the faction loyal to Wike, which had earlier attempted to stop the convention through the courts. However, the party secured a favourable ruling from an Oyo State High Court, clearing the way for the convention to proceed.
A few days before the convention, Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Wike-led faction, Mao Ohuabunwa, dismissed the gathering in Ibadan as illegitimate, insisting it would not be recognised by law. He described the event as a “jamboree” and urged party members not to attend.
According to Ohuabunwa, Anyanwu had already issued a circular announcing the postponement of the convention.
“We have agreed to obey all court decisions on the Ibadan convention. We are not part of the exercise. Ibadan is a public place; people can go there, but not for a PDP convention. We won’t tolerate flagrant abuse of the constitution by some individuals in the name of a convention”, he said.
Acting national chairman of the faction, Abdulrahman Muhammad, also asked delegates to stay away from Ibadan, urging them to wait for what he described as “the right time”. He said the faction remains committed to building a strong and united PDP across all states and the FCT.
On his part, Wike commended his supporters for what he called their commitment to defending the party’s constitution, saying, “We will continue to uphold the rule of law and will not succumb to intimidation. I won’t betray those who believe in the constitution of the party”.
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