The political storm in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) reached a climax yesterday as key figures, including minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike; former Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose; and suspended national secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, have rejected their expulsion from the party, describing the just-concluded convention in Ibadan as a “constitutional farce” and a mere jamboree.
They were expelled for alleged anti-party activities during the party’s Elective National Convention held at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan, where Ambassador Umaru Damagum was ratified as the substantive national chairman.
In a related move, the convention also expelled former national legal adviser of the party, Mr. Kamaldeen Adeyemi Ajibade, SAN; Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, and George Turner, alongside Hon. Umar Bature.
The motion for their expulsion, along with that of Wike, Fayose, and Anyanwu, was moved by former deputy national chairman (South), Chief Olabode George, who accused them of acts aimed at undermining the party.
However, in swift reactions, the expelled leaders dismissed the process and its outcome.
Wike’s aide, Mr. Lere Olayinka, derided the gathering as nothing more than a social event.
“They went to Ibadan to start their own dirty December in November. It was nothing but a social party where people said whatever came to mind,” he said.
Similarly, Senator Anyanwu described his expulsion as illegal, noting that a court had earlier nullified his purported suspension by the Damagum-led National Working Committee (NWC).
Anyanwu, who spoke exclusively to Sunday LEADERSHIP, said, “That gathering does not qualify as a convention. INEC was not present; therefore, any decision taken is null and void.”
Meanwhile, Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, has dissociated himself from the decision of the Party to expel the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and others from the party.
Fintiri, who is also the chairman of the PDP 2025 Elective National Convention, noted that the decision was not in the best interest of the party.
He stated this in a statement signed by his chief press secretary, Humwashi Wonosikou
He said he would not be part of any attempt that could further plunge the PDP into an unending crisis.
“As a committed party member, my position is clear: I stand for the peace and stability of the PDP, and I will not support anything that could lead to its disintegration,” he said.
Indeed, officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) shunned the convention slated for November 15–16, 2025.
Chairman of the convention planning committee and Zamfara State governor, Dauda Lawal, informed delegates that INEC’s absence affected certain aspects of the convention.
“There are issues we cannot proceed with because INEC officials are not around,” he said, in what party insiders link to a series of Federal High Court judgments barring the commission from monitoring the event.
Despite these setbacks, the motion confirming Damagum was moved by Hon. Tony Abineri (Edo) and seconded by Edward Marshal (Imo), citing Section 32 of the PDP constitution.
The move formally consolidates Damagum’s leadership, ending months of uncertainty and legal disputes over the top position.
However, the convention exposed deepening fractures within the opposition party. Only four state governors, Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa), and host Seyi Makinde (Oyo), attended. Governors Ademola Adeleke (Osun), Siminalayi Fubara (Rivers), and Agbu Kefas (Taraba) were conspicuously absent, with former Governor Sule Lamido also absent.
Further compounding the discord, the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) publicly disowned a leaked reconciliation report proposing a caretaker committee.
BoT Chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara, described the document as “unauthorised” and warned that any attempt to subvert constitutionally mandated processes would undermine the party’s democratic foundation.
“The BoT was not consulted on that document. It does not reflect our official position,” Wabara declared.
Meanwhile, the Kebbi State chapter of the party pulled out of the convention in protest, alleging that the screening committee wrongfully cleared former minister Kabiru Tanimu Turaki for chairmanship despite ongoing legal and ethical issues.
In a petition seen by Sunday LEADERSHIP, state publicity secretary Alhaji Sani Dododo described the move as “rewarding illegitimacy.”
“No delegate from Kebbi will be part of a process built on deceit,” he said.
Back in Ibadan, the convention ground was awash with colours as delegates waved flags, donned face caps, and danced to solidarity songs amid tight security. Hotels in the city were filled to capacity, and Governor Makinde hosted delegates to a pre-convention dinner on Friday night.
In his address, Makinde praised the unity and resilience of party members.
“This is a defining moment for our great party. The memory of the 2025 PDP Elective Convention will be evergreen,” he said, urging members to embrace reconciliation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a significant move, the Convention also dissolved the party’s structures in five states, Imo, Abia, Enugu, Akwa Ibom, and Rivers.
Makinde, who moved the motion for the dissolution, said all structures at the ward, local government, and state levels in the affected states had been dissolved. The motion was seconded by national auditor and member of the NWC, Daniel Obiechina Okechukwu.
“The Convention has authorised the publication of this decision to serve as official notice to the public,” Makinde said.
He explained that congresses were held across the country between 2024 and 2025 to elect party executives and that they were substantially in compliance with the Electoral Act 2022, the PDP constitution, and party guidelines.
While Damagum’s ratification may bring temporary closure to the leadership tussle, the festering rift over expulsions, INEC’s absence, dissolution of state structures, and boycotts has left many wondering whether the PDP’s road to 2027 will lead to renewal or further implosion.
