PDP factions fight for control of the party secretariat in Abuja as Wike faction expels three governors

DISPIRATE fighting continues to dog Nigeria's main opposition the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after a faction loyal to Federal Capital Territory minister Nyesom Wike responded to his expulsion over the weekend by announcing the expulsion of three governors.

Meeting in the Oyo State capital Ibadan on Sunday, over 3,000 PDP delegates gathered to elect new leaders despite conflicting court orders. At the gathering, a former minister of special duties and inter-governmental affairs, Saminu Turaki, was elected as the PDP national chairman alongside other national officers.

At the convention, following the adoption of a motion moved by its former board of trustees chairman, Chief Bode George, expelled Nyesom Wike, former Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose, ex-national vice chairman (south-south) Chief Dan Orbih and a handful of others.  PDP governors in attendance at the convention included Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa), Dauda Lawal (Zamfara) and Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau).

However, the Wike faction has refused to accept the results of the convention, saying the expulsions were just an attempt by Governor Makinde to exert more control over the party. They have now responded by declaring that governors Makinde and Lawal have now been expelled alongside Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State.

In addition, the Wike faction also announced the dissolution of the party executives in Oyo, Bauchi, Ekiti, Zamfara, Edo and Lagos states. This morning, chaos erupted at the party secretariat in Abuja as the two factions clashed over control of the PDP headquarters amid the ongoing leadership dispute.

Apparently, security operatives supporting each side engaged in a chaotic stand-off over control of the complex, with teargas fired into the air by both sides. Governor Makinde arrived at the venue alongside the newly elected national secretary, Taofeek Arapaja, while Mr Wike came with Samuel Anyanwu, the embattled national secretary who maintains that his tenure remains valid until December 8.

Party leaders have expressed deep concern over the incident, accusing the police of failing to maintain neutrality amid the ongoing leadership crisis within the opposition party. In response to the incident, Saminu Turaki, the newly elected national chairman called on the US president Donald Trump to come and save democracy in Nigeria.