The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on Saturday, expelled former Rivers State Governor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike and 10 others from the party over alleged anti-party activities.
The party also expelled the factional secretary of the party, Samuel Anyanwu; former Ekiti State governor, Ayo Fayose; the party’s National Legal Adviser, Adeyemi Ajibade (SAN), Umar Bature, AbdulRahman Mohammed, Mao Chuambuwa, George Turner, Austin Nwachukwu, Abraham Ammah and Dan Orbih.
The motion for their expulsion moved by one of the founding fathers of the party, Chief Bode George was unanimously supported by the members of the party at the ongoing PDP National Convention in Ibadan.
It was seconded by Bauchi State governor, Bala Mohammed.
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The party announced this at the ongoing PDP National Convention in Ibadan, Oyo State capital also dissolved the PDP executive council in Rivers, Abia, Plateau Enugu and Imo states.
The PDP faction loyal to Wike had moved to stop the convention through the court, but the party secured judgement at a high court in Oyo to make the convention hold.
A few days to the convention, Mao Ohabunwa, chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Wike-led faction, said anyone going to Ibadan for the purpose of convention would just going there to relax because the exercise would not be recognized by law.
Taunting the other faction, he said those interested in going to Ibadan should relax and have fun, describing the exercise as a “jamboree.”
According to him, Anyanwu, had issued a circular, notifying members about the postponement of the convention.
”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.
”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,” Ohuabunwa had said.
The faction’s acting national chairman, Abdulrahman Muhammad, also called on the delegates to stay away from the convention and wait for the right time.
Muhammad promised to keep mobilizing members across the 36 states and the FCT for a strong and united PDP.
”We are concerned with moving PDP forward, therefore, all delegates across the country should stay away from the Ibadan convention,” said Muhammad.
Oyo court sustains order allowing PDP’s convention
Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan, Friday, extended its existing order allowing the National Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to hold as scheduled in Ibadan on Saturday without any interference or disruption.
Counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), O. Adeyemi, had on Friday challenged the court’s jurisdiction to entertain the matter brought before it by the Claimant/Applicant.
He argued that INEC is an agency of the Federal Government and, as a result, any matter involving it can only be entertained by the Federal High Court.
He said the 1999 Constitution guarantees the right to lawful assembly and convention.
This order clears the way for the convention to go on.
Speaking after the proceedings, counsel to the 5th, 6th, and 7th defendants, who are seeking to be joined in the suit, Mr. Emmanuel Ukala, SAN, described the adjournment as an unnecessary delay.
The defendants in the suit are the PDP (1st defendant); its Acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagun (2nd defendant); and the Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, who chairs the PDP Convention Organising Committee (3rd defendant). INEC is the 4th defendant.
