The contentious expulsion of Nyesom Wike and several other senior figures from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has triggered an open revolt among key governors, deepening the crisis that engulfed the party’s convention in Ibadan on Saturday.
Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, distanced himself from the expulsion while delivering remarks at the convention ground, citing the absence of officials from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as one of the reasons he could not support the exercise.
“With the absence of INEC and the various litigations for and against this convention, it is not within my prerogative to continue with this exercise. I leave the convention delegates to decide,” he declared.
Fintiri later reiterated his stance in a statement posted on his verified X account, describing the expulsion of Wike and others as an action that ran counter to the party’s interest and risked plunging the PDP into “an unending crisis”. He appealed to party members to prioritise reconciliation, unity, and stability.
Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, also rejected the expulsion move. In a statement signed by his Director of Press, Gyang Bere, he argued that the decision was never discussed at the PDP Governors’ Forum nor at the National Executive Council and therefore did not represent his position. He warned that removing prominent party leaders during a volatile period was “not a strategic approach”.
Meanwhile, two expelled party leaders—Abia PDP Chairman, Amah, and South-South Zonal Secretary, Turner—condemned the process as unlawful, pointing to ongoing litigation and subsisting court orders. Amah described the convention as “an aberration”, revealing that only a fraction of Abia’s delegates were present. Turner dismissed the gathering as “a social event”, insisting it had no legal standing in the absence of INEC officials.
South-South acting Publicity Secretary, Enyinnaya Appolos, also labelled the exercise “ill-fated” and held “in clear defiance of judicial pronouncements”. He warned that any decisions taken would “not withstand judicial scrutiny”.
Amid the uproar, signs have emerged that more governors may be preparing to defect from the party. Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, and Taraba State Governor Agbu Kefas all shunned the convention, fuelling rumours of impending exits.
The Deputy National Youth Leader, Timothy Osadolor, said their absence suggested they were “on their way out”, alleging that several PDP governors were working to frustrate Adeleke’s second-term bid.
“In the eyes of the law, it is a complete nullity,” Osadolor added, arguing that the refusal of INEC to attend rendered the convention void. “The governors who shunned the event are wise.”
As the crisis widens, party members await judicial clarification, with multiple issues now heading to the Court of Appeal. The PDP faces one of its most significant internal fractures yet, just two years before the 2027 general elections.
