The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has formally issued expulsion certificates to Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and other members removed during the party’s November 16 national convention in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The National Working Committee (NWC) handed over the certificates at a meeting on Tuesday in Abuja, where Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum formally transferred national leadership to Senator Kabiru Turaki.
The certificates, confirmed in a statement on the party’s X handle, serve as official proof that the affected individuals are no longer members of the PDP, facilitating their registration with other political parties without violating Nigerian law on dual party membership.
Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Turaki said: “Now that they are no longer members of our party, and now that the National Convention, which is the highest decision-making organ of our party, has expelled them, we have decided to issue them certificates of expulsion… so that those parties will not accuse them of trying to belong to more than one political party.”
The certificates were dispatched via courier to Wike, former Ekiti 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 stressed that the step was necessary to formally notify Nigerians and relevant institutions, including INEC and security agencies, of the affected individuals’ status. “The Nigeria Police, DSS, NSCDC and other government agencies 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 said.
The PDP chairman further warned that the party would soon issue public disclaimers, cautioning that anyone dealing with the expelled individuals “does so at his or her own risk.” He added that the party is focused on rebuilding and preparing to offer Nigerians “credible leadership” ahead of the 2027 elections.
The expulsions have been highly controversial, as they defied court orders that prohibited the Ibadan convention pending ongoing legal disputes over state congresses. The Wike-loyal faction, led by figures including National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu and factional Chairman Mohammed Abdulrahman, rejected the convention’s legitimacy and held a parallel NWC meeting in Abuja on November 18.
That faction also announced the expulsion of several opponents, including Governors Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), former Board of Trustees Chair Adolphus Wabara, Turaki himself, and others, citing anti-party activities and violations of court orders.