The crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party deepened on Tuesday as the factional National Executive Committee loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, ratified the expulsion of key party figures, including Governors Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, and Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State.
Others expelled were former Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Senator Adolphus Wabara; former National Vice Chairman, Bode George; and the recently elected National Chairman, Kabiru Turaki, SAN. The decision followed last Saturday’s controversial national convention in Ibadan, where Wike and his loyalists were themselves expelled.
The development led to a confrontation between both factions at the party’s national secretariat in Wadata Plaza, Abuja, where parallel NEC and Board of Trustees meetings had been scheduled.
The factional NEC, which met at the secretariat on Tuesday, also dissolved the state executive councils in Oyo, Bauchi, Zamfara, Yobe, Lagos, and Ekiti States, directing that caretaker committees be set up and fresh congresses conducted.
A communiqué issued after the meeting and read by National Secretary Senator Sam Anyanwu stated that the NEC received a report from the Acting National Chairman, Abdulrahman Mohammed, outlining alleged breaches of Articles 58(1) and 59(1) of the party constitution. The alleged offences included anti-party activities, disobedience to court orders, and conduct said to have brought the party into disrepute.
The NEC approved the commencement of disciplinary procedures against Adolphus Wabara, Olabode George, Ben Obi, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, 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.
