ABUJA: The National Working Committee (NWC) of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has issued formal expulsion certificates to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose, and other members expelled during the party’s recent national convention in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The certificates were distributed on Tuesday, December 2, at an NWC meeting in Abuja, where Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum officially handed over party leadership to Senator Kabiru Turaki.
The development was later confirmed through a statement on the PDP’s official X handle.
The expelled members were earlier sanctioned on November 16 over allegations of anti-party activities.
Addressing journalists after the meeting, Turaki said the NWC reviewed matters concerning the expelled individuals.
He explained that issuing certificates was necessary to ensure clarity, noting:
Nigerian law frowns on dual party membership, so we have sought to make the process easier for them.
Now that the National Convention has expelled them, we decided to issue certificates of expulsion.
He said the certificates would serve as proof when the affected individuals seek to join other political parties, preventing accusations of dual membership.
The party has already dispatched the documents to those involved, including Wike, Fayose, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, Umaru Bature, Kamarudeen Ajibade (SAN), Abdurahman Muhammad, Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, Austin Nwachukwu, Abraham Amah Nnanna, George Turna and Chief Dan Orbih.
Turaki stated that relevant institutions including INEC, the Police, DSS and NSCDC must be aware of their status.
He added that the PDP would issue public disclaimers and warned that anyone conducting political business with the expelled members does so at their own risk.
He described the move as part of the party’s efforts to reposition itself ahead of the 2027 elections, saying the PDP had removed “cankerworms” that previously hindered its progress.
However, the expulsion remains controversial, as it contradicted existing court orders halting the Ibadan convention due to disputes over parallel state congresses.
A faction loyal to Wike, led by suspended National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu and factional Chairman Mohammed Abdulrahman, rejected the convention and held a separate NEC meeting on November 18, where they issued their own counter-expulsions targeting several prominent PDP leaders, including Governors Seyi Makinde, Bala Mohammed, and Dauda Lawal.
