The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday formalized the exit of several high-profile members, including Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike and former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose, by issuing them official “certificates of expulsion.”
The move follows the party’s recent national convention in Ibadan, Oyo State, where the expulsion of the members over alleged anti-party activities was ratified. The certificates were issued during an NWC meeting in Abuja where Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum formally handed over leadership to Senator Kabiru Turaki.
Preventing Dual Membership
Addressing journalists after the meeting, Senator Kabiru Turaki provided the rationale behind the unprecedented step of issuing certificates to confirm the expulsions. He cited the legal principle frowning upon dual party membership in Nigeria.
“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 stated.
He explained that the certificates are intended to remove any ambiguity regarding their political status, particularly as they may seek to join other political platforms.
“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,” he continued. “So that, when they go to register with other political parties in Nigeria, they will show these certificates as proof that they are no longer members of the PDP, and so those parties will not accuse them of trying to belong to more than one political party.”
Disclaimers and Future Focus
Turaki confirmed that the certificates have been dispatched via courier to the affected individuals. Beyond Wike and Fayose, the list of those expelled and issued certificates includes Senator Samuel Anyanwu, Umaru Bature, Chief Dan Orbih, and several others.
The chairman emphasized that the step was necessary to notify relevant institutions and the public of the affected individuals’ status, warning that the party would soon issue public disclaimers.
He warned that anyone dealing with the expelled individuals “does so at his or her own risk.”
Turaki concluded by expressing the party’s optimism that the move signals a fresh start. “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 said, adding that the PDP is now focused on rebuilding ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The expulsion remains contentious, as it was carried out despite ongoing court orders challenging the legitimacy of the convention. Meanwhile, a faction loyal to Wike and his allies has reportedly held a parallel meeting and announced the counter-expulsion of several PDP opponents, including other state governors.
