… dissolves States exco
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expelled the former governors of Rivers, Ekiti states, Nyesom Wike, Ayo Fayose and nine others from the party over alleged anti-party activities.
Also, the party has dissolved the Rivers, Abia, Imo, Plateau, and Enugu States executive councils.
Other members expelled from the party were Hon.Abraham Amah, Hon. Umar Bature, Adeyemi Ajibade SAN, Senator Mao Ohabinwa, Senator Samuel Anyawu, George Turner, Chief Dan Orbih, Muhammed Abdulrahman, and Hon Sistine Nwachukwu
A chieftain of the party from Lagos state, Chief Olabode George, moved the motion for the expulsion of Wike and others. Oyo state governor, Seyi Makinde, moved the motion for the dissolution of the executive of the five states.
The expulsion and dissolution order are in accordance with Section 33 subsection 2 of the 2017 Constitution of the PDP.
George said, “the Articles 33(2)(1),(2)(j)(n)&(r) of the Peoples Democratic Party amended) and are to be bound by its fundamental principles and aspirations as have supremacy in all matters pertaining to the Party and all officers and organs of the Party, including matters of discipline of officers and members;
“Whereas the persons mentioned above have committed various breaches of the party’s constitution, including supporting and canvassing votes for the opposition candidates at the election, conducting illegal and parallel congresses, sponsoring litigations against the party, the most recent of which is suit No FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025 between Him. Austin’s Nwachukwu & Its, V INEC & Its, seeking to stop the 2025 National Elective Convention for no just cause contrary to Article 58(1)(1) of the Constitution of the party.
“In that case, Samuel Anyanwu, Hon Umar Bature and Kamaldeen Adeyemi Ajibade gloriously supported Wike and others to ensure that the 2025 national convention does not hold.
“The party has completely lost its esteem, regard and respect in the eyes of the public on account of the despicable conduct of the former governor of Rivers State and these men he recruited to help him destroy the party contrary to articles 58(1)(b) and (i) of the constitution of the party.
“I, Chief Bode George, hereby move that this national convention expel the persons mentioned above from the Peoples Democratic Party”.
The motion was seconded by Pharmacist Samaila Adamu Burga.
The PDP on Saturday held its elective national convention in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, with the leaders of the party noting that the event would be remembered as a turnaround for the fortune of the party.
The leaders also unanimously agreed that the 2025 convention was a testament to the fact that the main opposition party is alive and would be properly placed to contest future elections in the country.
Leaders of the party, including the Acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum, the chairman of the Board of Trustees (BOT), Sen Adolphus Wabara, the chairman of the National Convention Organising Committee (NCOC), Governor Umar Fintirin of Adamawa state, Oyo state governor, Seyi Makinde and his Zamfara state counterpart, Dauda Lawal, who spoke in turn at the Lekan Salami Sports Complex, Adamasigba, Ibadan, said the convention marked a new beginning for the party.
Makinde, while welcoming leaders, delegates and members of the party to the convention, noted that it was a long stretch of battle to get to the point of holding the event.
According to him, the convention, with the many battles that were fought by the resilient members of the party before it could hold, would be remembered as a significant one that led to the positive turnaround of the fortunes of the party.
He said, “It has been a long stretch of battle to get to this point, but here we are, and by God’s grace this convention will go down as the convention that brought the turnaround to the Peoples Democratic Party nationally”.
Also speaking, Wabara said he was fulfilled now that the convention was held, saying, “Quite frankly, for me if I die today, I will thank God, I want to thank all of you here that have made this a reality, for those of us who believe in this party, this party will not die. This gathering is a testament to our resilience, our democratic spirit, our collective commitment to the ideals of unity, progress and service of Nigeria”.
He lauded the members of the state for conducting the ward, local government and state congresses in their various states before converging on Ibadan for the national convention, noting that the executives that emerged at those congresses would steer the affairs of the party to greatness.
The BOT chairman, however, charged the members to continue to be united and exhibit the spirit of togetherness, commitment, sacrifice and loyalty.
The Zamfara state governor noted that the delegates and the party leaders gathered in Ibadan as a united front to take the party forward, appealing to the people for maximum cooperation so that they can collectively save the future of the PDP.
Speaking on behalf of the senate caucus of the party, the senator representing Bauchi Central senatorial district, Senator Abdul Ningi, said the multitude that attended the convention had shown that the PDP is not dead.
He said, “This is a very clear indicator that PDP is not dead, it is important to send a clear message to all and sundry that it is an entrenched party, it is the peoples party and therefore we will continue to do what we want to do, as a political party our vision is beyond 2027, I say with all sense of responsibility that we are not gathered here only because of 2027, we gathered here to make sure that our people around the country have a feel of democracy.
“We have come a long way, for over 25 years we have been holding convention after convention, some political parties in history have never had any convention, we call on all lovers of the PDP all lovers of democracy and for those who feel this country would be a one party state, I say they must perish this thought of making Nigeria a one party state.”
Honourable Fred Agbedi, who spoke on behalf of the House of Representatives Caucus of the party, said the members would reinvigorate the caucus and play their roles as ambassadors of the PDP in the lower chambers.
He said, “Everyone should be rest assured today that the caucus of the PDP in the House of Representatives would stand shoulder to shoulder with this party in all things that you desire our attention, you will invite us and mandate us to play our roles as ambassadors of PDP in the house of representatives, no growing organization will do without challenges, today we have come to surmount and overcome our challenges and our challenges can only be overcome if we stand together.
“We should also ensure that we don’t allow fifth columnists to continue to run this party down, and wherever we find such people attempting to run this party down, to destroy this party, we should rise up to the occasion to ensure that this party comes out stronger after this convention.”