The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expelled the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barrister Nyesom Wike; a former Ekiti State governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose; the party’s National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu; National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade, who is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria; and Imo State Chairman, Hon. Austin Nwachukwu.
Also expelled are Hon. Umar Bature, Mohammed Abdulrahman; Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Wike-led faction, Senator Mao Ohabunwa; Hon. Austine Nwachukwu, Abraham Amah, George Turner and Chief Dan Orbih.
A former Deputy National Chairman (South), Chief Olabode George moved the motion for the expulsion at the ongoing convention in Ibadan, Oyo State capital.
The decision, it was gathered, was promptly ratified by an overwhelming majority of delegates at the convention. According to the party, it underscores commitment to eradicating internal divisions and anti-party conduct that have plagued its progress.
‘The persons mentioned above have committed various breaches of the party’s Constitution including supporting and canvassing votes for opposition’, the fifth motion moved by George at the convention read in part, citing Articles 33(2) (1), (2) ) (n) & (r) of the PDP Constitution 2017 (as amended),
The PDP faction loyal to Wike had moved to stop the convention through the court, but the party secured judgement at a high court in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, to make the convention hold.
A few days to the convention, Ohabunwa said that anyone going to Ibadan for the purpose of convention would just be doing that to relax because the exercise would not be recognised by law.
Taunting the other faction, he said that those interested in going to Ibadan should relax and have fun, describing the exercise as a ‘jamboree’.
According to him, Anyanwu had issued a circular, notifying members about the postponement of the convention.
’We have met as the National Working Committee of PDP, and reviewed our activities. We have agreed to obey all the court decisions on the Ibadan convention. So, we are not part of the exercise.
’Ibadan is a public place, people can go for anything but not for convention, anyone going there in the name of convention should consider it a jamboree.
’We won’t tolerate flagrant abuse of the constitution by some individuals in the name of a convention’, Ohuabunwa had said.
The faction’s acting National Chairman, Abdulrahman Muhammad also called on the delegates to stay away from the convention and wait for the right time.
He promised to keep mobilising members across the 36 states and the FCT for a strong and united PDP.
He said: ‘We are concerned with moving PDP forward, therefore, all delegates across the country should stay away from the Ibadan convention’.
Wike had earlier commended members of the party for defending PDP in their respective areas.
He insisted that his camp would always uphold the rule of law and would not succumb to intimidation.
The minister pledged not to betray those that believe in the constitution of the party.
’I am happy with your concern about the party in your respective areas, I will continue to support you people, I won’t betray you people’, he said.
