PDP crisis: Bala Mohammed, Makinde, Turaki battle Wike, Anyanwu for soul of main opposition party

….we will not abandon party to outsiders – Turaki

….as Wike group announces expulsion of Bala Mohammed, Bode George, Makinde, others

….security operatives use teargas to disperse party faithfuls

The ongoing battle for the soul of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) worsened on Tuesday as the group loyal to Nyesom Wike and Samuel Anyanwu announced the “expulsion” of Governors Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, and Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State.

The group made the announcement after its National Executive Committee (NEC) ratified the expulsions at a meeting held at the party’s secretariat in Abuja.

It also said it had expelled Adolphus Wabara, Chairman of the Board of Trustees; Tanimu Turaki, who was elected last weekend as the new National Chairman of the party; and Taofeek Arapaja, who was also elected as the new National Secretary, among others, for alleged anti-party activities.

Samuel Anyanwu, who announced the decision, also disclosed that the NEC ratified the dissolution of the State Executive Councils of Bauchi, Oyo, Zamfara, Yobe, Lagos, Edo, and Ekiti States.

Despite the decision, Turaki later took over the National Chairman’s office on Tuesday afternoon, vowing not to surrender the PDP to “strangers.”

He announced that the planned National Working Committee (NWC) meeting, which could not hold on Tuesday, had been rescheduled for Wednesday.

Anyanwu, while announcing the expulsions, said: “These decisions were taken at the 103rd NEC meeting of the party held at the national secretariat in Abuja today.”

Mohammed Abdulrahman, acting National Chairman of the Wike faction, who presented the memo for the expulsions, said the action became necessary due to the affected members’ disregard for court judgments, which he said had brought the party into disrepute.

The decision came amid confusion over who had the legal authority to hold meetings at the party secretariat, prompting the deployment of security operatives who intervened to prevent what could have resulted in a major crisis. Officers used tear gas and sheer force to clear Wadata Plaza, the national secretariat of the PDP, in Abuja.

The operatives, made up of personnel of the Mobile Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the Department of State Services (DSS), arrived at the secretariat as early as 5 a.m. to secure the premises following reports that rival factions, loyalists of Wike and supporters of Turaki, had both scheduled factional National Working Committee meetings for the same day.

The Turaki group, fresh from its national convention where its leaders were elected, had called an inaugural meeting to strategise ahead of the forthcoming Ekiti and Osun governorship elections.

But at the meeting of the Wike group, its leaders directed the legal team and NWC to commence immediate constitutional action to recover the seats of all elected officials who had defected from the PDP, in line with Sections 68(1)(g) and 109(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution.

They also revealed that plans were underway for a party-wide reconciliation initiative to heal divisions and rebuild trust, while ensuring that reconciliation does not undermine discipline. A nationwide membership audit and revalidation will begin ahead of the 2027 elections.

“NEC acknowledged the anxieties among members but assures the Party faithful that these decisions are aimed at stabilising and strengthening the PDP.”

Anyanwu, while reading the communique, said “The National Executive Committee (NEC) met on 18 November 2025 to address recent developments affecting the unity, stability, and constitutional order of our Party.

“At a time when Nigerians look to the PDP for leadership, NEC convened to uphold truth, justice, discipline, and respect for the rule of law.

“NEC expressed deep concern over the actions of some members who violated subsisting court orders by organizing and attending a purported and unauthorized convention. This act triggered confusion, factionalisation, and the defection of governors and legislators nationwide.

“NEC reaffirmed that the PDP draws its legitimacy from strict adherence to its Constitution and that of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, not from impunity.

“NEC received the report of the Acting National Chairman, Hon. Abdulrahman Mohammed, detailing breaches of Articles 58(1) and 59(1), including anti-party activities, disobedience to court orders, and conduct bringing the Party into disrepute.”

He stated that the NEC also “approved the commencement of disciplinary procedures against the following; Adolphus Wabara, Olabode George, Ben N. Obi, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN), Bala Mohammed, Oluseyi Makinde, Dauda Lawal, Taofiq Arapaja, Setonji Koshoedo, Okechukwu Obiechina Daniel, Woyengikuro Daniel, Mohammed Kadade Suleiman, Emmanuel Ogidi, Sumaila Adamu Burga, Umar Sani, Udom Emmanuel and Emmanuel Enorden.

“NEC further resolved that Ali Odefa must refund all salaries and allowances collected after his expulsion on 12 December 2024. These actions are taken to preserve order and discipline within the Party.

“NEC ratified the dissolution of State Excos in Bauchi, Oyo, Zamfara, Yobe, Lagos and Ekiti. The NWC is directed to constitute caretaker committees and begin fresh congresses immediately while the Edo State Exco led by Barr. Nosa Ogieva has been approved.

“NEC directed Deputies in all National Working Committee positions now vacant owing to expulsion to assume the substantive positions in acting capacity and function as NWC members.

“NEC also formally ratified the appointment of Alhaji Mohammed Abdulrahman, as the Acting National Chairman of the party.

“The NEC also affirmed that the era of indiscipline is over. The PDP will not bow to lawlessness or personal ambition.

“With unity, discipline, and renewed purpose, the PDP will rebuild stronger and restore public confidence ahead of the next electoral cycle.”

Earlier in their opening remarks, Mao Ohuabunwa, BoT Chairman, and Mohammed Abdulrahman, acting National Chairman, had “urged the party members to remain steadfast, expressing confidence that the PDP will surmount its problems”

Recall that the group loyal to Nyesom Wike and Samuel Anyanwu was expelled by the party last Saturday in Ibadan.

This followed a resolution at the party’s national convention in Ibadan to expel Wike and Anyanwu, alongside others, for alleged anti-party activities.

However, the move was rejected by Governors Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State and Caleb Muftwang of Plateau State.

Wike and his group, which had earlier boycotted the Ibadan convention, condemned their expulsion and quickly regrouped.

As early as 8:05 a.m., Samuel Anyanwu, National Secretary of the Wike group, arrived at the party secretariat and began making arrangements for the Board of Trustees (BoT) meeting.

Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), arrived at about 11:10 a.m. to attend the BoT meeting.

As soon as he arrived, security operatives began firing teargas canisters to disperse people around the premises.

In an attempt to take over the party structures, the Wike group quickly organised meetings of the BoT and the National Executive Committee (NEC) for Tuesday at the party secretariat.

Similarly, the newly elected National Working Committee (NWC) members also scheduled their own meeting at the party’s secretariat for the same day.

Speaking with journalists after securing access to the party offices, Governor Bala Mohammed blamed the crisis on what he described as an attempt by the Wike group to usurp the powers of the newly elected PDP National Working Committee.

According to him, “These people have been expelled, yet they are causing trouble for the party. Or do they want President Donald Trump of the United States to intervene in this matter?”

Governors Makinde and Mohammed later led Tanimu Turaki and other party officials into the offices inside the party secretariat, where they vowed not to surrender the party to “strangers.”

Speaking on the ongoing crisis, Turaki, the National Chairman of the party, vowed not to surrender the PDP to those he described as “outsiders.”

”We won’t give up our Secretariat to out siders, and we shall defend it with our lives.”

He however commended the FCT Police Commissioner for protecting the party.

“He assured us that he is going to protect us. He assured us that he’s going to provide security for us to conduct our meeting. I’m happy that the Commissioner of Police of the FCT had fulfilled his promise.

“They have made sure that we’ve gained entry into our secretariat and we are here addressing the gentlemen of the press. Now, however, due to some incidents that are called by those people who are the enemies of progress, who are the enemies of democracy, we have decided that this meeting will be postponed till tomorrow.

“Meanwhile, I want to appreciate our leaders, our governors, members of National Assembly, former governors, former ministers, members of BOT, state chairman, and indeed members of the immediate past National Working Committee who have also come here to show solidarity with us.

“We in PDP are a peace-loving people. We want peace to reign because we want to take over governance in this country. And so, if we want to take over governance in this country, then we need to have a country in place.”

Turaki also vowed to stabilise the party, adding that “we will do everything to ensure that democracy survives. And if it means that we have to make appeal to international community to come and assist us, to rescue this democracy, we will not fail from doing that. I want to call on all Nigerians to stand up.

“There is a serious threat to democracy in this country. As soon as democracy crumbles, then that will be the end of this country, God forbid. But for us in PDP, I had said it and I want to say it quite emphatically, that if it means that we lay down our lives for democracy to strive and survive in Nigeria, we are prepared to do that.”