Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State has formally distanced himself from the expulsion of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike, by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He also dissociated himself from the expulsion of a former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, the national secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, and other leaders of the PDP.
The party unanimously voted to expel them for anti-party activities and fostering disunity with series of litigation against the interests of the party.
In a statement by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Gyang Bere, the governor explained that the issue was neither discussed by the PDP Governors’ Forum nor the National Executive Committee (NEC) before the motion was presented.
He stated that the proposal did not reflect his position on the matter.
Governor Mutfwang further noted that expelling the party leaders at this crucial time was not a strategic step toward resolving the internal challenges currently confronting the PDP.
He said there was a need for unity, dialogue, and collective effort in rebuilding and repositioning the party.
Mutfwang is the second governor to distance himself from the expulsion of the PDP leaders at the national convention in Oyo.
Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, has dissociated himself from the decision of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to expel the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, from the party.
This was contained in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Humwashi Wonosikou, on Saturday.
Fintiri, who is also the Chairman of the PDP 2025 Elective National Convention, noted that the decision was not in the best interest of the party.
He said he would not be party to any attempt that could further plunge the PDP into unending crisis.
“As a faithful party member, my position is clear: I stand for the peace and stability of the PDP, and I will not support anything that could lead to its disintegration.
“I believe that peace and reconciliation are the only ways forward for our great party,” the governor was quoted as saying.
FILE PHOTO: FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.
Fintiri urged all stakeholders to work towards healing the divisions within the party and to strive for unity and cohesion.
He stated that as a party man, he remained committed to supporting efforts that promote peace, stability, and progress within the PDP.
The governor reiterated that his position was guided by the desire for peace and reconciliation and will continue to work towards achieving this goal.
‘Anti-Party Activities’
Wike and a former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, were expelled from the PDP on Saturday for anti-party activities.
The party also expelled the National Secretary of the party, Samuel Anyanwu, and eight others.
The decision was taken at the national convention of the party in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The PDP national convention is taking place at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Adamasingba, Ibadan, Oyo State.
A chieftain of the PDP, Bode George, moved the motion for the expulsion of 11 key members, citing what he described as activities inconsistent with the party’s collective interest as reasons for the move.
The chairman of the PDP in Bauchi State quickly seconded the motion. The Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Muhammed, put the vote forward for members to adopt and ratify the expulsion of those involved, and it was unanimously accepted.
Also present at the convention are Governor Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Governor Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa), Governor Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), Governor Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), Governor Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau), and the PDP National Chairman, Umar Damagum.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Saturday expelled the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and a former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, from the party, for anti-party activities.
The party also expelled the National Secretary of the party, Samuel Anyanwu, and eight others.
The decision was taken at the national convention of the party in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Delegates at the PDP convention in Ibadan, Oyo State, cast their votes according to their respective states to elect national officers of the party.
The party unanimously voted to expel them for anti-party activities and fostering disunity with a series of litigation against the interests of the party.
The national convention, which is currently being held at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan, has delegates from 17 states across the country in attendance.
A chieftain of the PDP, Bode George, moved the motion for the expulsion of 11 key members, citing what he described as activities inconsistent with the party’s collective interest as reasons for the move.
The chairman of the PDP in Bauchi State quickly seconded the motion.
The Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Muhammed, put the vote forward for members to adopt and ratify the expulsion of those involved, and it was unanimously accepted.
The Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Muhammed, put the vote forward for members to adopt and ratify the expulsion of those involved, and it was unanimously accepted.
PDP leaders at the party’s national convention in Ibadan
Also present at the convention are Governor Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Governor Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa), Governor Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), Governor Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), Governor Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau) and the PDP National Chairman, Umar Damagum.
Others are the Senate Minority Leader, Abba Moro; a former governor of Osun, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, his Gombe counterpart, Senator Ibrahim Dankwambo; and the Board of Trustees chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara; and a chieftain of the party, among others.
Below is the full list of those expelled by the party at the convention:
As the national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gets underway in Ibadan, Oyo State, some prominent figures, including governors, in the opposition party, have yet to arrive.
They include governors Ademola Adeleke (Osun), Sim Fubara (Rivers), and Agbu Kefas (Taraba), who have not been sighted at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Adamasingba, venue of the ongoing convention.
Present at the exercise are Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State, Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, Governor Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), Governor Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau) and the PDP acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum.
The PDP national convention is taking place at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Adamasingba, Ibadan, Oyo State.
Also present are the Senate Minority Leader, Abba Moro; a former governor of Osun, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, his Gombe counterpart, Senator Ibrahim Dankwambo; the Board of Trustees chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara; and a chieftain of the party, Bode George, among others.
The PDP national convention is taking place at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Adamasingba, Ibadan, Oyo State.
Mohammed, Makinde, Others Receive Flags
Meanwhile, leaders of the PDP have received the flags of the party, the Nigerian national flag, and the national convention flag, among others.
Damagum received the flag of the PDP, while Fintiri, who is also the chairman of the national convention, received the national convention flag.
The PDP national convention is taking place at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Adamasingba, Ibadan, Oyo State.
Mohammed, who is also the Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, received the Nigerian flag, with the host governor, Makinde, receiving the Oyo State flag.
Other leaders who received flags at the event were Moro, who received the Senate flag, and Fred Agbedi, who received the House of Representatives flag.
The convention began with the accreditation of the over 3,000 delegates, who have converged on Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
PDP National Convention in Ibadan. Photo Credit: PDP
The accreditation process for delegates from across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, which is preparatory to the voting exercise, started in the afternoon.
Ibadan had been agog since Friday as party faithful from across the country berthed in the city.
The PDP national convention is taking place at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Adamasingba, Ibadan, Oyo State.
Governor Makinde had on Friday hosted a dinner, which was attended by PDP governors, former governors, the Board of Trustees (BoT) Chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara, and the party’s National Working Committee.
Convention Amid Litigation
The convention began despite the litigation that has trailed it for weeks.
The venue of the exercise is buzzling with activities and delagates from different parts of the country dressed in colouful attires.
READ ALSO: Lekan Salami Stadium Buzzes As PDP National Convention Gets Underway In Ibadan
There is a heavy present of security, comprising different law enforcement agencies, at the venue to maintain order during the convention.
Venue of PDP National Convention in Ibadan.
Since the national convention was announced, some members of the party loyal to the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, insisted that some issues, including the conduct of congresses, be resolved.
FILE PHOTO: FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.
The development led to further division in the PDP, with Damagum and Abdulrahman Muhammed heading the two factions of the party.
While the Damagum group insisted on the convention, the Abdulrahman camp cancelled the convention following the judgment of the Abuja Federal High Court.
The BoT, led by Wabara, insisted that the national convention would go ahead as planned, despite an order by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja restraining the party from holding its 2025 convention in Oyo State.
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Zamfara State, Umar Moriki, has been reportedly killed by gunmen suspected to be armed bandits.
Moriki was reportedly attacked and shot dead on Saturday morning along the Gusau–Tsafe highway, near Fegi village in the Tsafe Local Government Area, while traveling from Gusau to Kaduna.
READ ALSO: Five Policemen Killed In Zamfara Bandit Ambush, Gov Lawal Mourns
The state chapter of the APC, under the leadership of Tukur Danfulani, confirmed the incident, describing it as a tragic loss to the party and the state.
In a statement issued by the Publicity Secretary of the party in Zamfara State, Yusuf Idris, the late APC stalwart had just participated in the party’s stakeholders’ meeting hosted by the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle.
Moriki held several key political positions during his lifetime, including as Vice Chairman of the Zurmi Local Government Area, Director-General of a state agency, and Special Adviser on Rural Electrification.
He also contested the Zurmi/Shinkafi House of Representatives seat in the 2023 elections.
Moriki died at the age of 62 and is survived by three wives and several children.
Host of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Convention, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, has arrived at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan, the venue of the exercise.
Makinde arrived alongside Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State, Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, and the PDP acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum.
READ ALSO: Kebbi PDP Boycotts National Convention Over Turaki’s Candidacy
Other senior party officials are also expected to attend the convention, which will produce leaders to steer the affairs of the PDP ahead of the 2027 general elections.
FILE PHOTO: Governor Seyi Makinde
Channels Television reports that despite the contention and litigation that trailed it for weeks, the convention is now underway in the state capital.
Our correspondent reports that the atmosphere at the stadium is buzzing with activities.
READ ALSO: Lekan Salami Stadium Buzzes As PDP National Convention Gets Underway In Ibadan
Scores of delegates in colourful attire are pouring into the venue, while supporters move around the stadium, quietly mapping out strategies for their preferred contenders.
Security at the venue has been heavily fortified, with different law enforcement agencies present to maintain order during the convention.
Since the national convention was announced, some members of the party loyal to the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, insisted that some issues, including the conduct of congresses, be resolved.
The development has led to the factionalisation of the party, with Damagum and Abdulrahman Muhammed heading the two factions of the party.
While the Damagum group insisted on the convention, the Abdulrahman camp cancelled the convention following the judgment of the Abuja Federal High Court.
The PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) insisted that the national convention will go ahead as planned, despite an order by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja restraining the party from holding its 2025 convention in Oyo State.
