· Govs disown Wike, others expulsion
· Rivers, Jigawa, Imo, others reject outcome
By Laraba MUREY & Michael AMAJAMA
THERE seems to be no end in sight with the crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, following the reactions to the 20th National Convention that held on Saturday in Ibadan Oyo State.
At the convention, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose; the party’s National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu; the National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade; and Austin Nwachukwu, were expelled from the party.
Others are the factional chairman of the party, Mohammed Abdulrahman; Senator Mao Ohuabunwa; Austine Nwachukwu; Abraham Amah; George Turner; and Chief Dan Orbih.
The reactions have been swift across party lines. Governor Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State, who chaired the National Organising Committee of the convention, and the Governor of Plateau State, Caleb Mutfwang, have both dissociate themselves from Wike’s expulsion and others.
Governor Fintiri dissociated himself from Wike’s expulsion.
Fintiri, who withdrew from participation at the convention ground, said the absence of INEC officials at the event also necessitated his withdrawal from the exercise.
The Adamawa governor further clarified his position in a statement shared on his verified X handle (@AhmaduUmaruFintiri).
He described Wike’s expulsion as an action against the interest of the party and warned that it could plunge the PDP into an unending crisis.
Fintiri urged party members to work towards unity and the reconciliation of aggrieved members.
“I urge all stakeholders to work towards healing the divisions within the party and to strive for unity and cohesion. As a party man, I am committed to supporting efforts that promote peace, stability, and progress within the PDP,” he wrote.
On his part, the Plateau State governor, Mutfwang, also distanced himself from the disputed expulsion, arguing that the issue was neither discussed at the PDP Governors’ Forum nor at the party’s National Executive Council before it was presented.
He maintained that the proposal did not represent his position on the matter in a statement signed by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Gyang Bere.
Mutfwang further observed that expelling party leaders at such a critical time was not a strategic approach to addressing the internal challenges facing the PDP, reiterating the need for unity, dialogue, and collective effort in rebuilding and repositioning the party.
The Jigawa State chapter of the party has warned against fraudsters posing as delegates at the party’s convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State, insisting that no authentic delegate from the state participated amid the party’s deepening national crisis.
While issuing a disclaimer on the alleged participation of Jigawa delegates, the chairman of the state chapter, said in a statement posted on his personal Facebook page on Saturday night that the chapter remained firm in boycotting the Ibadan convention in line with the Federal High Court judgment restoring the rights of party leader, Sule Lamido, to contest the chairmanship.
“These impostors do not represent us; Jigawa PDP is committed to genuine reconciliation and legal processes that unite, not divide, our great party,” Gumel said, urging members and the public to ignore any fraudulent claims and focus on resolving the national crisis through dialogue.
“Some people are claiming to be elected delegates representing Jigawa in this ongoing factional purported convention,” he wrote.
In a similar vein, the Rivers State chapter of the party described the party’s national convention held in Ibadan on Saturday as illegal and said its outcomes will not stand.
In a statement issued by its publicity secretary, Kenneth Yowika, the Rivers PDP praised the INEC for boycotting the convention, saying the move upheld the rule of law and democracy.
“The ill-advised convention cannot withstand legal scrutiny as it is already sub-judice at the Court of Appeal. We rest our faith solely on the judiciary and urge all members to do the same,” the statement read.
Reacting to the development, the Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, dismissed the convention as mere drama.
Olayinka, via X, argued that no one should take the organisers seriously.
“They went to Ibadan to start dirty December in November. When people decide to start their own dirty December in November, one can’t but ignore whatever comes out of their mouths,” he wrote.
“They gathered in Ibadan to do social party, enjoyed themselves and got intoxicated. They are free to say anything.”
The INEC is yet to speak on the development as at the time of going to press.
