The turmoil within the Peoples Democratic Party deepened on Tuesday as the factional National Executive Committee aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, approved the expulsion of three serving governors: Seyi Makinde of Oyo, Bala Mohammed of Bauchi, and Dauda Lawal of Zamfara.
The faction also endorsed the expulsion of former Board of Trustees Chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara; ex–National Vice Chairman, Bode George; and the newly elected National Chairman, Kabiru Turaki, SAN.
Tuesday’s decision comes barely days after the contentious national convention held in Ibadan, where Wike and his allies were themselves expelled from the party.The escalating confrontation culminated in chaotic scenes at the PDP national secretariat in Wadata Plaza, Abuja, as both factions arrived for rival NEC and Board of Trustees meetings scheduled for the same day.
The NEC also expelled former Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Senator Adolphus Wabara; former National Vice Chairman of the party, Bode George, and the recently elected party National Chairman, Kabiru Turaki, SAN.
The move comes just days after the controversial PDP national convention held in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, last Saturday, which saw Wike and his loyalists expelled from the party.
The development triggered Tuesday’s heated confrontation between both camps at the party’s national secretariat in Wadata Plaza, Abuja, where the two factions had scheduled parallel NEC and Board of Trustees meetings.
The factional NEC, at its meeting held at the national secretariat in Abuja on Tuesday, also dissolved the state executive councils in Oyo, Bauchi, Zamfara, Yobe, Lagos, and Ekiti States, directing the constitution of caretaker committees and the conduct of fresh congresses.
A communiqué from the meeting, read by National Secretary Senator Sam Anyanwu, stated, “NEC received the report of the Acting National Chairman, Hon. Abdulrahman Mohammed, detailing breaches of Articles 58(1) and 59(1), including anti-party activities, disobedience to court orders, and conduct bringing the party into disrepute.
“NEC approved the commencement of disciplinary procedures against the following: 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.”
