By Ayomide Otitoju
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Saturday expelled the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike; former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose; the party’s National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu; and eight other members for alleged anti-party activities and actions said to have undermined party unity.
The decision was unanimously endorsed at the party’s national convention held at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, Ibadan, Oyo State, with delegates from 17 states in attendance.
PDP chieftain Bode George moved the motion for the expulsion of the 11 members, accusing them of engaging in conduct inconsistent with the party’s collective interest, including instituting litigation against the PDP. The Bauchi State PDP chairman seconded the motion, after which Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi put it to a vote. Delegates adopted the expulsion unanimously.
Present at the convention were Governors Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa), Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), Dauda Lawal (Zamfara) and Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau), as well as PDP National Chairman Umar Damagum. Others included Senate Minority Leader Abba Moro, former Osun State Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, former Gombe Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo and BoT Chairman Senator Adolphus Wabara.
The expulsions follow longstanding calls for sanctions against Wike and other members accused of working against the party during the 2023 general elections. Wike, however, has consistently denied engaging in anti-party activities. In an October 2024 television interview, he said he had “no apologies” for his actions during the presidential election, insisting his stance was driven by “equity, fairness and justice.”
Wike, who served as Rivers State governor, was appointed FCT Minister by President Bola Tinubu, the 2023 presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He has previously accused some PDP leaders of violating the party’s constitution and vowed to retaliate. At a campaign rally in January 2023, Wike declared: “Those of them in Abuja talking about anti-party— we have caught them now. They are the ones doing anti-party. Anti-party begets anti-party.”
With the convention’s ratification, the PDP has formally severed ties with the expelled members as it moves to reposition itself ahead of future political contests.
