The National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has issued expulsion certificates to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and other members removed from the party at its last national convention in Ibadan, Oyo State.
In a statement posted on the party’s X handle after the ceremony, the PDP said the certificates were issued during an NWC meeting held on Tuesday in Abuja. At the meeting, Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum formally handed over national leadership to Senator Kabiru Turaki.
The November 16 convention had ratified the expulsion of Wike and several others over alleged anti-party activities.
Speaking with journalists after Tuesday’s meeting, Turaki said the NWC reviewed all matters related to the members expelled by the convention. He explained that issuing expulsion certificates was necessary because Nigerian law prohibits dual party membership.
“We have taken note of the fact that Nigerian law frowns on dual membership of political parties, and so we have sought to make it easy for them,” Turaki said. “Now that they are no longer members of our party, and now that the National Convention—the highest decision-making organ of our party—has expelled them, we have decided to issue them certificates of expulsion. When they go to register with other political parties, they will present these certificates as proof that they are no longer members of the PDP, so those parties will not accuse them of attempting dual membership.”
According to him, the certificates have been dispatched by courier to the affected individuals: Nyesom Wike; former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose; Senator Samuel Anyanwu; Umaru Bature; Kamarudeen Ajibade (SAN); Abdurahman Muhammad; Senator Mao Ohuabunwa; Austin Nwachukwu; Abraham Amah Nnanna; George Turna; and Chief Dan Orbih.
Turaki added that the step was necessary to officially notify Nigerians and relevant institutions—including INEC and security agencies—about the status of the expelled members. He said the Nigeria Police, DSS, NSCDC, and other government bodies should “know that these people are no longer members of our party. They have been expelled. They remain expelled. We have now certified their expulsion, and these certificates have been sent to them.”
He further said the party would soon issue public disclaimers, warning that anyone dealing with the expelled individuals “does so at his or her own risk.”
“We hope that members of the PDP in Nigeria and the diaspora will know that the party has once again gotten rid of the cankerworms that have been afflicting and creating problems for us in our activities,” he added.
Turaki said the PDP is now focused on rebuilding and preparing to provide Nigerians with “credible leadership” ahead of the 2027 elections.
The Telegraph reports that the expulsions have been controversial, as they defied court orders halting the convention pending the resolution of ongoing legal disputes over state congresses.
A faction loyal to Wike, led by figures such as embattled National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu and factional Chairman Mohammed Abdulrahman, rejected the Ibadan convention as illegitimate and held a parallel National Executive Committee meeting in Abuja on November 18. The faction also announced the expulsion of several opponents—including Governors Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), former Board of Trustees Chairman Adolphus Wabara, Turaki himself, and others such as Chief Bode George—for alleged anti-party activities and violations of court orders.
