PDP Chieftain Backs Wike Expulsion

A former spokesperson of the PDP presidential campaign council, Umar Sani, has defended the party’s decision to expel Nyesom Wike and other top members, describing the move as overdue but necessary.

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He spoke on Monday during an interview on Arise News, where he also affirmed that the party’s national convention in Ibadan met all legal requirements.

LIST OF APPLICATIONS FOR REGULARISATION OF AREA COUNCIL LAND DOCUMENTS NULLIFIED/CANCELLED BY THE HONOURABLE MINISTER OF FCT

Sani said the PDP had made several attempts to settle the rift internally through the Hassan Adamu Reconciliation Committee, but those efforts failed. He noted that the crisis deepened when one of Wike’s conditions for peace was that the party should not field a presidential candidate in 2027. According to him, the party had to act to avoid further damage.

LIST OF APPLICATIONS FOR REGULARISATION OF AREA COUNCIL LAND DOCUMENTS NULLIFIED/CANCELLED BY THE HONOURABLE MINISTER OF FCT

He also addressed the confusion over election observers at the Ibadan convention. He explained that the MC mistakenly introduced some guests as INEC officials, but Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed clarified that they were national observers, not INEC staff. Sani said he quickly corrected the information publicly to avoid misrepresentation.

Sani added that INEC’s presence is not a legal requirement for validating a party convention. He pointed to past instances where conventions held without INEC were later upheld in court, including that of the Labour Party. He said the PDP proceeded based on a valid order from Justice A. L. Akintola of the Oyo State High Court, and all statutory notices were issued.

At the convention, the party elected Kabiru Turaki as National Chairman and Taofeek Arapaja as National Secretary. Delegates also voted to expel Wike, Samuel Anyanwu, Kamaldeen Ajibade, Ayo Fayose, Austin Nwachukwu and others for alleged anti-party activities. The motion was moved by Bode George and endorsed by delegates after Bala Mohammed put it to a voice vote, signalling a fresh push by the PDP to tackle internal divisions.