….we won’t abandon celebration to outsiders – Turaki
….as Wike group declares expulsion of Bala Mohammed, Bode George, Makinde, others
….safety operatives use teargas to disperse celebration faithfuls
The continued battle for the soul of the principle opposition Peoples Democratic Get together (PDP) worsened on Tuesday because the group loyal to Nyesom Wike and Samuel Anyanwu introduced the “expulsion” of Governors Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, and Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State.
The group made the announcement after its Nationwide Govt Committee (NEC) ratified the expulsions at a gathering held on the celebration’s secretariat in Abuja.
It additionally mentioned it had expelled Adolphus Wabara, Chairman of the Board of Trustees; Tanimu Turaki, who was elected final weekend as the brand new Nationwide Chairman of the celebration; and Taofeek Arapaja, who was additionally elected as the brand new Nationwide Secretary, amongst others, for alleged anti-party actions.
Samuel Anyanwu, who introduced the choice, additionally disclosed that the NEC ratified the dissolution of the State Govt Councils of Bauchi, Oyo, Zamfara, Yobe, Lagos, Edo, and Ekiti States.
Regardless of the choice, Turaki later took over the Nationwide Chairman’s workplace on Tuesday afternoon, vowing to not give up the PDP to “strangers.”
Learn additionally: PDP: Wike faction expels Makinde, Bala Mohammed, Bode George, others
He introduced that the deliberate Nationwide Working Committee (NWC) assembly, which couldn’t maintain on Tuesday, had been rescheduled for Wednesday.
Anyanwu, whereas saying the expulsions, mentioned: “These choices have been taken on the 103rd NEC assembly of the celebration held on the nationwide secretariat in Abuja immediately.”
Mohammed Abdulrahman, performing Nationwide Chairman of the Wike faction, who introduced the memo for the expulsions, mentioned the motion grew to become crucial because of the affected members’ disregard for courtroom judgments, which he mentioned had introduced the celebration into disrepute.
The choice got here amid confusion over who had the authorized authority to carry conferences on the celebration secretariat, prompting the deployment of safety operatives who intervened to stop what may have resulted in a significant disaster. Officers used tear fuel and sheer drive to clear Wadata Plaza, the nationwide secretariat of the PDP, in Abuja.
The operatives, made up of personnel of the Cellular Police Pressure, the Nigeria Safety and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the Division of State Companies (DSS), arrived on the secretariat as early as 5 a.m. to safe the premises following stories that rival factions, loyalists of Wike and supporters of Turaki, had each scheduled factional Nationwide Working Committee conferences for a similar day.
The Turaki group, contemporary from its nationwide conference the place its leaders have been elected, had known as an inaugural assembly to strategise forward of the forthcoming Ekiti and Osun governorship elections.
However on the assembly of the Wike group, its leaders directed the authorized group and NWC to start speedy constitutional motion to recuperate the seats of all elected officers who had defected from the PDP, according to Sections 68(1)(g) and 109(1)(g) of the 1999 Structure.
In addition they revealed that plans have been underway for a party-wide reconciliation initiative to heal divisions and rebuild belief, whereas guaranteeing that reconciliation doesn’t undermine self-discipline. A nationwide membership audit and revalidation will start forward of the 2027 elections.
“NEC acknowledged the anxieties amongst members however assures the Get together devoted that these choices are geared toward stabilising and strengthening the PDP.”
Anyanwu, whereas studying the communique, mentioned “The Nationwide Govt Committee (NEC) met on 18 November 2025 to handle latest developments affecting the unity, stability, and constitutional order of our Get together.
“At a time when Nigerians look to the PDP for management, NEC convened to uphold fact, justice, self-discipline, and respect for the rule of legislation.
“NEC expressed deep concern over the actions of some members who violated subsisting courtroom orders by organizing and attending a purported and unauthorized conference. This act triggered confusion, factionalisation, and the defection of governors and legislators nationwide.
“NEC reaffirmed that the PDP attracts its legitimacy from strict adherence to its Structure and that of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, not from impunity.
“NEC obtained the report of the Performing Nationwide Chairman, Hon. Abdulrahman Mohammed, detailing breaches of Articles 58(1) and 59(1), together with anti-party actions, disobedience to courtroom orders, and conduct bringing the Get together into disrepute.”
He acknowledged that the NEC additionally “authorised the graduation of disciplinary procedures in opposition to the next; Adolphus Wabara, Olabode George, Ben N. Obi, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN), Bala Mohammed, Oluseyi Makinde, Dauda Lawal, Taofiq Arapaja, Setonji Koshoedo, Okechukwu Obiechina Daniel, Woyengikuro Daniel, Mohammed Kadade Suleiman, Emmanuel Ogidi, Sumaila Adamu Burga, Umar Sani, Udom Emmanuel and Emmanuel Enorden.
“NEC additional resolved that Ali Odefa should refund all salaries and allowances collected after his expulsion on 12 December 2024. These actions are taken to protect order and self-discipline inside the Get together.
“NEC ratified the dissolution of State Excos in Bauchi, Oyo, Zamfara, Yobe, Lagos and Ekiti. The NWC is directed to represent caretaker committees and start contemporary congresses instantly whereas the Edo State Exco led by Barr. Nosa Ogieva has been authorised.
“NEC directed Deputies in all Nationwide Working Committee positions now vacant owing to expulsion to imagine the substantive positions in performing capability and performance as NWC members.
“NEC additionally formally ratified the appointment of Alhaji Mohammed Abdulrahman, because the Performing Nationwide Chairman of the celebration.
“The NEC additionally affirmed that the period of indiscipline is over. The PDP won’t bow to lawlessness or private ambition.
“With unity, self-discipline, and renewed objective, the PDP will rebuild stronger and restore public confidence forward of the subsequent electoral cycle.”
Earlier of their opening remarks, Mao Ohuabunwa, BoT Chairman, and Mohammed Abdulrahman, performing Nationwide Chairman, had “urged the celebration members to stay steadfast, expressing confidence that the PDP will surmount its issues”
Recall that the group loyal to Nyesom Wike and Samuel Anyanwu was expelled by the celebration final Saturday in Ibadan.
This adopted a decision on the celebration’s nationwide conference in Ibadan to expel Wike and Anyanwu, alongside others, for alleged anti-party actions.
Nonetheless, the transfer was rejected by Governors Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State and Caleb Muftwang of Plateau State.
Wike and his group, which had earlier boycotted the Ibadan conference, condemned their expulsion and shortly regrouped.
As early as 8:05 a.m., Samuel Anyanwu, Nationwide Secretary of the Wike group, arrived on the celebration secretariat and started making preparations for the Board of Trustees (BoT) assembly.
Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), arrived at about 11:10 a.m. to attend the BoT assembly.
As quickly as he arrived, safety operatives started firing teargas canisters to disperse folks across the premises.
In an try and take over the celebration buildings, the Wike group shortly organised conferences of the BoT and the Nationwide Govt Committee (NEC) for Tuesday on the celebration secretariat.
Equally, the newly elected Nationwide Working Committee (NWC) members additionally scheduled their very own assembly on the celebration’s secretariat for a similar day.
Talking with journalists after securing entry to the celebration places of work, Governor Bala Mohammed blamed the disaster on what he described as an try by the Wike group to usurp the powers of the newly elected PDP Nationwide Working Committee.
Based on him, “These folks have been expelled, but they’re inflicting hassle for the celebration. Or do they need President Donald Trump of the USA to intervene on this matter?”
Governors Makinde and Mohammed later led Tanimu Turaki and different celebration officers into the places of work contained in the celebration secretariat, the place they vowed to not give up the celebration to “strangers.”
Talking on the continuing disaster, Turaki, the Nationwide Chairman of the celebration, vowed to not give up the PDP to these he described as “outsiders.”
”We gained’t quit our Secretariat to out siders, and we will defend it with our lives.”
He nonetheless recommended the FCT Police Commissioner for safeguarding the celebration.
“He assured us that he’s going to guard us. He assured us that he’s going to supply safety for us to conduct our assembly. I’m blissful that the Commissioner of Police of the FCT had fulfilled his promise.
Learn additionally: PDP crisis: Police disperse party members with teargas as Wike storms national secretariat
“They’ve made positive that we’ve gained entry into our secretariat and we’re right here addressing the gents of the press. Now, nonetheless, attributable to some incidents which might be known as by these people who find themselves the enemies of progress, who’re the enemies of democracy, we’ve got determined that this assembly will likely be postponed until tomorrow.
“In the meantime, I need to admire our leaders, our governors, members of Nationwide Meeting, former governors, former ministers, members of BOT, state chairman, and certainly members of the speedy previous Nationwide Working Committee who’ve additionally come right here to indicate solidarity with us.
“We in PDP are a peace-loving folks. We would like peace to reign as a result of we need to take over governance on this nation. And so, if we need to take over governance on this nation, then we have to have a rustic in place.”
Turaki additionally vowed to stabilise the celebration, including that “we are going to do all the pieces to make sure that democracy survives. And if it implies that we’ve got to make enchantment to worldwide group to come back and help us, to rescue this democracy, we won’t fail from doing that. I need to name on all Nigerians to face up.
“There’s a severe risk to democracy on this nation. As quickly as democracy crumbles, then that would be the finish of this nation, God forbid. However for us in PDP, I had mentioned it and I need to say it fairly emphatically, that if it implies that we lay down our lives for democracy to try and survive in Nigeria, we’re ready to try this.”
