A factional National Executive Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party has taken drastic action against prominent members, ratifying the expulsion of three sitting governors and several other key figures from the party.
Major Political Purge in PDP
The dramatic development occurred on Tuesday, November 18, when the Abdulrahman Muhammed-led faction of the party's national working committee convened at the PDP national secretariat in Abuja. The meeting resulted in the expulsion of Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, and Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal from the party.
The purge extended beyond the governors to include former chairman of the board of trustees Senator Adolphus Wabara, Senator Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, Taofeek Arapaja, and several other prominent party members. All were removed over allegations of anti-party activities and disobedience to court orders.
Widespread Dissolution of State Structures
In a move that signals comprehensive restructuring, the factional NEC meeting also ratified the dissolution of state executive councils across seven states. The affected states include Bauchi, Oyo, Zamfara, Yobe, Lagos, Edo, and Ekiti.
This sweeping action represents one of the most significant escalations in the ongoing crisis rocking Nigeria's main opposition party. The dissolved state executives were reportedly aligned against the interests of the Nyesom Wike-led faction that orchestrated the purge.
Deepening Party Crisis
The acting national chairman, Abdulrahman Muhammed, who presided over the meeting, is known to be a close ally of Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. Wike, the former Rivers State governor, has been at the center of the PDP's internal conflicts since the 2023 general elections.
The development was reported by major Nigerian media outlets including The Punch and TVC News, confirming the seriousness of the party's internal divisions. The meeting and subsequent actions demonstrate the determination of the Wike-aligned faction to consolidate control over the party's structure despite ongoing legal and political challenges.
This latest escalation in the PDP crisis comes at a critical time for Nigeria's political landscape, with implications for the opposition's preparedness for future elections and governance in the affected states.
