A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) supported by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has approved the removal of three governors over alleged anti-party activities.
Those dismissed include Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde; Bauchi governor, Bala Mohammed; and Zamfara state governor, Dauda Lawal.
Others include former chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT); Adolphus Wabara; former minister Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, deputy national chairman (south); Taofeek Arapaja, and other prominent members of the PDP.
The dismissal of the individuals took place on Tuesday at the 103rd meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party held at the PDP headquarters in Abuja.
The development comes just days after a rival PDP faction led by former national chairman Umar Damagum organised a national convention in Ibadan.
At the convention, Wike, Anyanwu and ex-Ekiti governor Ayo Fayose were expelled, alongside Umar Bature, Kamaldeen Ajibade, Mao Ohabunwa, Uwachukwu, George Turner, Dan Orbih, Abdulrahman, Austin Nwachukwu and Abraham Amah.
The Ibadan gathering drew the attendance of several prominent figures, including Bala Mohammed, Adamawa governor Ahmadu Fintiri, Zamfara governor Dauda Lawal, Plateau governor Caleb Mutfwang and Seyi Makinde.
Also at the convention were Ogun PDP governorship candidate Ladi Adebutu; Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan; former Niger governor Babangida Aliyu; and former minister Kabiru Turaki, who emerged as consensus candidate for national chairman.
Other notable attendees included former Kano governor Ibrahim Shekarau, BoT chairman Adolphus Wabara and BoT member Bode George. Osun governor Ademola Adeleke and Taraba governor Agbu Kefas were conspicuously absent.
The acting National Chairman, Mohammed Abdulrahman, disclosed that the expulsions followed repeated violations of subsisting court orders, which he argued had undermined the party.
Earlier, a violent confrontation erupted at the Party’s national secretariat as supporters of Wike, Seyi Makinde, and governor Bala Mohammed fought for control of the party’s headquarters.
Eyewitnesses reported a free-for-all involving security details attached to the rival factions, with teargas canisters fired indiscriminately around the premises. The clash left party staff and visitors fleeing for safety amid thick clouds of smoke and deafening explosions.
The immediate trigger was a dispute over who occupies the office of National Secretary. Governor Makinde arrived at the secretariat with Senator Taofeek Arapaja, recently elected National Secretary at a controversial factional convention.
In defiance, Wike maintained his presence with Senator Samuel Anyanwu, the incumbent National Secretary, who insists his tenure, extended by a court order, remains valid until 8 December 2025.
Riot policemen deployed to the scene were accused by senior PDP figures of taking sides, with some allegedly aiding one faction to gain entry while blocking the other.
“The Nigerian Police have abandoned neutrality and are now openly partisan,” a member of the party’s National Working Committee told journalists on condition of anonymity.
