PDP crisis intensifies as Wike-backed faction expels Makinde and others after violence display

On Tuesday, there was chaos at the national headquarters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja as police deployed tear gas to disperse a fight between rival factions of the party.

The conflict erupted when two opposing groups, the faction backed by Nyesom Wike and the newly established National Working Committee (NWC) led by Kabiru Turaki, scheduled their meetings at Wadata Plaza on the same day.

Tensions escalated when Samuel Anyanwu, the national secretary of the Wike-supported faction, arrived with his team for their planned Board of Trustees (BoT) and National Executive Committee (NEC) meetings.

As clashes among supporters intensified, police struggled to maintain control. Officers eventually instructed everyone, including prominent party members, to vacate the premises.

When the situation grew more chaotic, law enforcement unleashed tear gas canisters, prompting politicians, party affiliates, staff, and reporters to scramble for safety. The abrupt dispersal led to a stampede, with many coughing and covering their faces as they fled into nearby streets.

Outside, supporters from both factions wielded sticks and various objects amid ongoing confrontations. Additional police forces were later called in to restore order, but tensions persisted as both sides accused each other of inciting the violence.

The crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) intensified on Tuesday as a faction led by Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike confirmed the expulsion of several notable party members, including Governors Seyi Makinde of Oyo, Bala Mohammed of Bauchi, and Dauda Lawal of Zamfara.

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The expulsion also affected former Board of Trustees Chairman Senator Adolphus Wabara, former National Vice Chairman Bode George, and the recently elected National Chairman Kabiru Turaki, SAN.

This development followed last weekend’s controversial PDP national convention held in Ibadan, during which Wike and his supporters were expelled, leading to renewed conflict.

At their meeting at the secretariat, the Wike-aligned NEC also disbanded the state executive councils in Oyo, Bauchi, Zamfara, Yobe, Lagos, and Ekiti, ordering the establishment of caretaker committees and scheduling new congresses.

In a statement, National Secretary Senator Sam Anyanwu announced that the NEC had received a report from Acting National Chairman Hon. Abdulrahman Mohammed detailing violations of Articles 58(1) and 59(1), including anti-party actions, disregard for court orders, and behavior damaging to the party’s reputation.

He mentioned that the NEC had authorized disciplinary actions against various members, including Adolphus Wabara, Bode George, Ben N. Obi, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN, Bala Mohammed, Seyi Makinde, Dauda Lawal, along with others.