Their expulsion was announced on Saturday at the party’s
national convention in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital.

Others expelled include Umar Bature, Ajibade Kamarudeen, Mao
Ohabunwa, Uwachukuwu, George Turner, Dan Orbih, Mohammed Abdulrahman, Austin
Nwachukwu and Abraham Amah.

Olabode George, former national vice-chairman of the party
(south), moved the motion for the expulsion, while Samaila Buga, chairman of
the PDP in Bauchi, seconded him.

Bala Mohammed, governor of Bauchi and chairman of the PDP
Governors’ Forum, put it to a voice vote.

BACKGROUND

The Wike-led PDP faction had sought to halt the convention
through the courts, but the party secured a high court judgement in Oyo
allowing the event to proceed.

Ohabunwa, chairman of the board of trustees (BoT) of the
Wike faction, said anyone going to Ibadan for the purpose of convention would
just be going there to relax because the exercise would not be recognised by
law.

He taunted the other faction, describing the exercise as a
“jamboree” and advised attendees to “have fun” in Ibadan.

According to Ohabunwa, Anyanwu had issued a circular
notifying members about the convention’s postponement.

“We have met as the national working committee of PDP and
reviewed our activities. We have agreed to obey all the court decisions on the
Ibadan convention. So, we are not part of the exercise,” he said.

“Ibadan is a public place; people can go for anything but
not for convention. Anyone going there in the name of convention should
consider it a jamboree.”

“We won’t tolerate flagrant abuse of the constitution by
some individuals in the name of a convention,” he added.

Mohammed Abdulrahman, acting national chairman of the
faction, also urged delegates to stay away from the convention and wait for the
right time.

“We are concerned with moving PDP forward; therefore, all
delegates across the country should stay away from the Ibadan convention,”
Abdulrahman said.

Abdulrahman added that he would continue mobilising members
across the 36 states and the FCT to strengthen a united PDP.

Wike, meanwhile, commended party members for defending the
PDP in their respective areas and pledged his support.

“I am happy with your concern about the party in your
respective areas. I will continue to support you people; I won’t betray you
people,” he said.

He insisted that his camp would always uphold the rule of
law and would not succumb to intimidation.