The ongoing crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took another turn as the embattled National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, openly challenged the validity of his purported expulsion, along with other high-profile party figures, at a recent gathering in Ibadan.
Speaking to journalists, Anyanwu firmly insisted that the actions taken against them were null and void, asserting that a legitimate convention never actually took place because the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was not officially represented.
“One, I have not been expelled, and all the names mentioned were never expelled,” Senator Anyanwu declared. He questioned the legitimacy of the entire proceeding: “So, on what premise are you expelling us? What platform are you using to expel us at a convention that never held?”
He further explained that procedural requirements were ignored: “Every communication to INEC for any congresses, convention, I must sign to that and I never communicated any letter to INEC for any convention.” By his account, the lack of his official signature and the absence of INEC observers strip the Ibadan gathering of the necessary legal authority to suspend or expel national officers.
Wike Faction Ratifies Expulsions and Dissolutions
Meanwhile, the faction of the PDP aligned with former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike moved to consolidate its position. On Tuesday, the faction’s National Executive Committee (NEC), meeting at the party Secretariat, officially ratified the expulsion of several prominent figures for alleged anti-party activities.
The decision affects key serving Governors, including Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), and Dauda Lawal (Zamfara). Also targeted were former Board of Trustees (BoT) Chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara, Senator Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, Deputy National Chairman (South), Taofeek Arapaja, and several others.
In a sweeping move to restructure state leadership, the Wike aligned NEC also ratified the dissolution of the State Executive Councils (EXCOs) of seven states: Bauchi, Oyo, Zamfara, Yobe, Lagos, Edo, and Ekiti. These actions demonstrate the deep internal schisms plaguing the PDP as both sides continue to wage war for control and legitimacy.
