The faction of the Peoples Democratic Party loyal to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has rejected the expulsion of its leaders at the party’s convention in Ibadan. The group insists the event was illegal because it violated two Federal High Court orders restraining the party from proceeding with the exercise.
On Saturday, over 3,000 delegates gathered in Ibadan to elect new national officers despite conflicting rulings. A Federal High Court in Abuja had ordered the PDP to halt the convention until former Jigawa governor Sule Lamido received the chance to obtain a nomination form and campaign for the national chairmanship. The court held that Lamido was unjustly excluded.
A separate ruling by the same court earlier in the week also stopped the PDP from holding the event. But an Oyo State High Court later granted the party permission to proceed and directed INEC to monitor the exercise, creating a legal deadlock.
The Ibadan convention later announced the expulsion of Wike, former Ekiti governor Ayo Fayose, former South-South vice chairman Dan Orbih and others. The Wike faction dismissed the decision.
Acting National Chairman Abdulrahman Mohammed said the convention “never held in the eyes of the law” and vowed to continue in office until the court decides otherwise. Former National Organising Secretary Umar Bature and Deputy National Youth Leader Timothy Osadolor made similar claims, insisting that only 17 state chapters were accredited and that the gathering lacked legitimacy.
Several state chapters—Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Jigawa—also disowned the convention, praising INEC for refusing to attend and insisting the party must obey court orders.
A founding member of the PDP, Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, warned that the crisis threatens Nigeria’s democracy if left unresolved.
