A prominent chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Okechukwu Osohua, has dismissed the party’s November convention in Ibadan, Oyo State, as nothing more than a “Christmas carol” and a casual “gathering of friends,” insisting it lacked legal validity.
Osohua made these remarks during an interview on Channels Television’s ‘Sunrise Daily’ programme on Tuesday.
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“As far as I’m concerned, it was just a gathering of friends, and I can even call it a Christmas Carol because it was not known to law; there was no convention,” he stated emphatically.
The event, held between 15 and 16 November in the South-Western state, was organised by a faction supported by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde.
During the gathering, the group announced the expulsion of several high-profile members, including the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike; former Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose; and Samuel Anyanwu.
The cited reason was alleged anti-party activities, a move that has deepened divisions within the PDP.
The faction went further by issuing certificates of expulsion to the affected individuals, a step Osohua criticised as unprecedented and legally unrecognised.
He attributed the actions to “selfish interest,” arguing that such certificates are “novel and unknown to the law.”
This controversy underscores ongoing internal strife in the PDP, Nigeria’s main opposition party, which has been plagued by factionalism since the 2023 general elections.
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The Ibadan convention has drawn widespread scrutiny, with critics questioning its legitimacy and procedural adherence to the party’s constitution.
Osohua’s comments reflect a broader sentiment among some members who view the event as an informal rally rather than a formal party proceeding.
