By Hon. Comrade James Onifade 
In a long-overdue reckoning, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has taken decisive action against the faction that has acted more like saboteurs than loyal members.
At its convention in Ibadan, Oyo State, the party under mounting pressure has moved to expel or suspend key figures: Nyesom Wike, Ayodele Fayose, Samuel Anyanwu, among others. This is not just a disciplinary measure, it is a purge of those who have actively undermined the party.
At the same convention, the PDP also unveiled its consensus list of national officers, signalling a fresh start and a unified direction for the party.
The list of aspirants and their positions as adopted at the convention includes:
1. Kasiru Tanimu Turaki – National Chairman
2. Alh. Hamza Akuya Koshe – Deputy National Chairman (North)
3. Dr. Daniel Ambrose Woyengikuro – Deputy National Chairman (South)
4. Arapaja Taofeek Gbola-Oladejo – National Secretary
5. Thediwa Richard Ninabugwu – Deputy National Secretary
6. Isa Abubakar – National Treasurer
7. Okechukwu Obiechinna Daniel – National Financial Secretary
8. Hon. Theophilus Daka Shan – National Organising Secretary
9. Ini Ememobong Essien – National Publicity Secretary
10. Akibisala Adewale Idowu – National Auditor
11. Bara’u Shaffi – National Legal Adviser
12. Ogbu Anthonia Chinenyenwa – National Women’s Leader
13. Umar Dan Aji – National Youth Leader
14. Solarin Sunday Adekunle – Deputy National Organising Secretary
15. Farida Umar Hamid – Deputy National Publicity Secretary
16. Aigbokhaebo Harrison Omagbon – Deputy National Treasurer
17. Hamsatu Adamu – Deputy National Women Leader
18. Hon. Tina Puna Musa – Deputy National Financial Secretary
19. Usamatu Maharazu – Deputy National Auditor
20. Elec Njaka Chikere – Deputy National Youth Leader
This comprehensive list reflects the party’s attempt to rebuild its internal structure with individuals chosen on consensus, restoring order and legitimacy after months of internal strife.
The Betrayal: How Wike & Co. Sabotaged the PDP
Wike’s camp, backed by his lieutenants, went to court to stop the national convention scheduled for Ibadan.
They argued that the party did not comply with its own constitution: “no congress was conducted in 14 states,” they claimed.
Even after a Federal High Court declined to block the convention, they have persisted in their narrative that the process is illegitimate.
Disrespect for the Rule of Law
Wike’s faction went further, dragging a judge (Justice Akintola) to the National Judicial Council over his role in allowing the convention to proceed , accusing him of “judicial recklessness” and undermining the hierarchy of the courts.
Meanwhile, Wike’s group claims that any gathering in Ibadan is a “nullity,” dismissing it as illegal, despite decisions by courts allowing the convention to go on.
While publicly calling for fairness, they have repeatedly flouted internal party protocols and judicial boundaries when it suits them.
Internal Mutiny and Anti-Party Activities
The PDP’s National Working Committee (NWC) has suspended several top officials aligned with Wike: Samuel Anyanwu (National Secretary), Kamaldeen Ajibade (National Legal Adviser), Umaru Bature (National Organizing Secretary) — labeling their conduct anti-party.
These suspensions were not symbolic, they were referred to the National Disciplinary Committee for further sanctions. The act of sabotaging the core leadership structure reveals how deeply entrenched the rot was: this was not a faction speaking up, but a camp actively seeking to hijack the party.
Propaganda and Legal Theater
The Wike-aligned “Eminent Leaders and Concerned Stakeholders” group hailed a court judgment that halted the party’s convention, calling it a “landmark” defense of the PDP’s founding values.
Yet, their narrative rings hollow. While they profess commitment to justice and internal democracy, their tactics have been nothing but obstructionist — blocking internal processes, dragging courts into internal affairs, and mobilizing legal actions to derail legitimate party processes.
Defiance and Disrespect Within the Ranks
As convention organizers pushed ahead, Wike’s bloc told members to stay away — not out of principle, they claimed, but to delegitimize the event.
Their posture isn’t that of loyal party members; it’s that of insurgents demanding not just change, but supremacy. Their distrust for the party structure has manifested not in calls for reform, but in outright sabotage.
The Reckoning: Suspension and Expulsion
At the Ibadan convention, the PDP finally struck back. Chief Olabode George moved the motion to expel Wike, Fayose, and Samuel Anyanwu. These are not fringe troublemakers — these are powerful players who have, for too long, wielded their influence to dismantle, rather than build, the party.
The decision sends a crystal-clear message: sovereignty is restored. Enough of backroom court battles. Enough of hijacking internal mechanisms.
What This Means for PDP’s Future
Accountability won’t be optional. For too long, the Wike faction acted as though the PDP was subordinate to their whims. This purge says otherwise.
Rule of law matters within the party. The PDP leadership is signaling that legalism and internal democracy cannot be shopworn tools for power play — they must be respected.
A reset is underway. By suspending and expelling the saboteurs, the PDP is attempting to rebuild itself around genuine loyalty, not transactional allegiance. This could be the turning point for a party that has been deeply fractured.
The fall of Wike and his cabal is not just a disciplinary move, it’s a long-overdue reckoning.
Their sabotage, legal stunts, and anti-party machinations have dragged the PDP into chaos. With their suspension and expulsion, the party finally draws a line in the sand.