By Vincent Egunyanga, Abuja
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) plunged deeper into crisis on Tuesday as the National Executive Committee (NEC), led by acting National Chairman Alhaji Mohammed Abdurahman, approved the expulsion of Governors Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), and key party figures, including Chief Olabode George and Senator Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN).
The sweeping sanctions, ratified at the party’s 103rd NEC meeting in Abuja, followed the earlier suspensions announced at the controversial Ibadan convention, where the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, acting National Chairman, Abdurahman, South-South leader, Chief Dan Orbih, and several others were suspended.
The suspension further deepened the factional rift and set the stage for Tuesday’s heightened confrontation.
*PDP’s factional groups clash at Wadata Plaza
Tension escalated at the Wadata Plaza national secretariat as rival groups attempted to hold parallel meetings.
Supporters of both sides traded accusations, forcing police to fire tear gas to disperse the crowd and restore order before the NEC reconvened to deliver its decisions.
Reading the communiqué, National Secretary, Anyanwu, flanked by Acting National Chairman, Abdurahman, former presidential aspirant, Senator Sam Ohuabunwa, and FCT Minister, Wike, who all sat with the NEC leadership during the session.
Anyanwu said that NEC had considered reports of “continued violation of subsisting court orders” by members who participated in the disputed Ibadan gathering and “persisted in acts that worsened factionalisation and weakened public confidence in the party.”
NEC thereafter confirmed the expulsion of Makinde, Bala, Turaki, George, former BoT Chairman Senator Adolphus Wabara, former deputy national chairman (South), Taofeeq Arapaja, Ben Obi, Emmanuel Ogidi, and several others for what it described as “unrestrained anti-party activities” that undermined the party’s stability.
The NEC also dissolved the State Executive Committees of Bauchi, Oyo, Zamfara, Yobe, Lagos, Bayelsa and Ekiti states, directing the constitution of caretaker committees and the conduct of fresh congresses.
It further affirmed Hon. Chidiebere Egwu Goodluck as Acting National Vice Chairman (South East) and confirmed Abdurahman as Acting National Chairman.
The communiqué declared that the Ibadan convention, from which the suspended faction drew its authority, “remains null, void and of no effect,” insisting that its organisers “triggered confusion, parallel structures and avoidable defections nationwide.” It added that “the era of impunity in the PDP is over.”
*Turaki-led faction calls for foreign intervention
Addressing journalists after his faction’s adjourned meeting, Senator Turaki escalated tensions with a dramatic appeal for external intervention.
“Donald Trump, don’t just come to stop genocide against Christians in Nigeria — come and save democracy too,” he said, alleging that internal democracy in the PDP was under threat.
His faction postponed its meeting to Wednesday, vowing to challenge the NEC’s decisions.
Despite the turmoil, he urged members to remain calm, insisting that the disciplinary measures were necessary to restore order and reposition the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
