PDP reveals actual reason behind Wike, Fayose, Others expulsion – PDP

By Fola Ademosu

 

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has explained why it expelled seven of its former chieftains, including the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Barr. Nyesom Wike and former governor of Ekiti State Ayodele Fayose. Others similarly expelled are the national secretary Sam Anyanwu, its legal officer Kamaldeen Ajibade, Austin Nwachukwu, and

The party axed Wike and others during its national convention, held at Ibadan, in Oyo State. In a terse statement published on its verified social media, the opposition party stated that its action was “to restore unity, discipline, and focus ahead of the 2027 general elections.”

The PDP, moreover, said the expulsions were meant to “eradicate internal divisions and anti-party conduct that have plagued its progress.”

Cornet News understands that Olabode George, a grandee of the party, who at a time was its former national chairman (Southwest) moved the motion for Wike and others expulsion.

The PDP averred that the “decision” to expel the heavyweights “was promptly ratified by an overwhelming majority of delegates.”

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the minister (Wike), Lere Olayinka, dismissed the action and mocked the party for beginning the “Detty December” (a slogan for partying by overseas returnees during the December festival celebrations) earlier than it should take place.

In the same vein, the governors of Adamawa State and Plateau, Ahamadu Fintiri, and Caleb Muftwang respectively have distanced themselves from the action.

According to Myftwang, the decision to expel Wike and others was neither tabled before the PDP Governors’ Forum nor the party’s National Executive Council (NEC) prior to the convention. Both governors called for peace and genuine reconciliation, as a way of fixing the party’s crisis.

However, the convention outcomes are likely to be a subject of litigation, based on the rulings of the Abuja Federal High Court stopping the party from organising the convention.

Justice Peter Lifu, gave the ruling on the basis that the PDP deliberately excluded former Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido, an aspirant for the national chairman’s position, from procuring the forms that would have allowed him to participate in the convention.

READ ALSO: https://thecornetnews.com/pdp-scorns-sule-lamidos-opposition-elects-turaki-at-disputed-convention/

The court ruled that besides ensuring that Lamido is allowed to contest, he must also be given the opportunity to campaign and mobilise for support before a convention could take place. Lifu, further in his ruling, directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to monitor the convention.

In opposition to the ruling, another court, this time the Oyo State High Court, about the same time ordered the convention to take place.