PDP sends expulsion certificates to Wike, Anyanwu, Fayose, others

The leadership crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party deepened on Tuesday as the National Working Committee issued official expulsion certificates to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and several other members earlier sanctioned at the party’s national convention in Ibadan.

The development coincided with the formal handover of national leadership from the Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, to Senator Kabiru Turaki at the NWC meeting in Abuja.

In a statement shared on the party’s X handle, the PDP confirmed that the certificates were issued in line with decisions ratified at the November 16 convention, where Wike and the affected members were expelled over alleged anti-party activities.

Addressing journalists after the meeting, Turaki said the decision was taken to remove any ambiguity surrounding the membership status of those expelled and to prevent them from violating Nigerian laws on dual party membership.

He explained that issuing certificates of expulsion would make it easier for the individuals to register with other political parties without being accused of belonging to two parties at once.

According to him, the certificates have already been dispatched by courier to those affected, including former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose; Senator Samuel Anyanwu; Umaru Bature; Kamarudeen Ajibade (SAN); Abdurahman Muhammad; Senator Mao Ohuabunwa; Austin Nwachukwu; Abraham Amah Nnanna; George Turna; and Chief Dan Orbih.

Turaki said the step was necessary to formally notify Nigerians, the Independent National Electoral Commission and security agencies of the expelled individuals’ status.

He stressed that the Nigeria Police, the DSS, the NSCDC and other institutions must be aware that those affected “are no longer members of our party. They have been expelled. They remain expelled, and we have now certified their expulsion.”

He noted that the party would soon issue public disclaimers to reinforce this position, warning that anyone dealing with the expelled members does so at personal risk.

Describing the move as a cleansing effort, Turaki said the PDP had finally rid itself of “cankerworms” that had contributed to internal instability.

He added that the party’s focus is now on rebuilding and offering Nigerians credible leadership ahead of the 2027 general elections.

However, the decision remains contested.

Very Nigerian that the Ibadan convention itself was held in defiance of court orders that halted party activities pending the resolution of disputes over state congresses.

The Wike-aligned faction, led by embattled National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu and factional Chairman Mohammed Abdulrahman, rejected the convention as invalid and convened a parallel NEC meeting in Abuja on November 18.

At their own gathering, the faction announced counter-expulsions of several PDP heavyweights, including Governors Seyi Makinde, Bala Mohammed, Dauda Lawal, former BOT Chairman Adolphus Wabara, Turaki himself, and others such as Chief Bode George, accusing them of anti-party activities and disobedience to court orders.

The face-off has left the PDP torn between two warring blocs, each insisting on its own legitimacy.

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