In a dramatic escalation of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) crisis, the Nyesom Wike aligned National Executive Committee (NEC) today announced the expulsion of three sitting governors, Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, and Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State. The decision came during a highly charged NEC meeting held at the PDP national secretariat in Abuja.
The communique, read by the faction’s National Secretary Senator Samuel Anyanwu, cited serious infractions, including “anti-party activities,” disobedience to valid court judgments, and actions capable of sowing disaffection within the party. According to the Wike faction, the expelled governors repeatedly flouted court orders, undermining the party’s credibility.
The purge did not stop at the three governors. Also expelled were several senior PDP figures, among them Senator Adolphus Wabara, former BoT chairman; Chief Bode George, a former national vice-chairman; and Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, the recently elected national chairman. The move signals an expansive restructuring of the party, one that clearly seeks to realign leadership under Wike’s influence.
In addition to the expulsions, the NEC voted to dissolve State Executive Committees (SECs) in six states: Oyo, Bauchi, Zamfara, Yobe, Lagos, and Ekiti. Caretaker committees are to be formed immediately to oversee fresh congresses, according to the NEC communiqué. In contrast, the Edo State Exco, led by Nosa Ogieva, was affirmed by the same meeting.
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Alhaji Mohammed Abdulrahman, the acting national chairman installed by the Wike-aligned NEC, presented the memo recommending the disciplinary actions. He argued that the affected leaders’ repeated defiance of court rulings had brought the party into disrepute, and could no longer be tolerated.
In the NEC’s resolution, the committee also directed its legal team to initiate constitutional action aimed at reclaiming the seats of elected officials who have defected from the PDP. The legal basis cited comes from sections of the 1999 Constitution Sections 68(1)(g) and 109(1)(g) which pertain to consequences of party defection.
To reinforce its drive for discipline, the NEC approved a party-wide reconciliation plan alongside a membership revalidation exercise. The reconciliation initiative, they say, is aimed at healing deep divisions, but not at the expense of enforcing rules. The membership audit is particularly strategic, coming ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The communique made a pointed declaration: “the era of indiscipline is over.” NEC insisted that the PDP’s legitimacy remains rooted in strict adherence to both its own constitution and that of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. According to the faction, the expelled members’ actions had triggered “confusion, factionalisation, and the defection of governors and legislators nationwide.”
The timing of the expulsion is notable. Just days ago, a rival PDP faction held a convention in Ibadan, Oyo State, where Wike and his allies were formally expelled. The Wike-aligned NEC, however, rejected that convention as illegitimate and today’s sweeping decisions underscore the depth of the schism.
As both factions now assert control over competing structures within the PDP, the party’s internal crisis is deepening just as Nigeria gears up for its next national election. Whether Wike’s purge will stabilize his wing of the PDP or further fracture the party remains to be seen.
