A factional chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Board of Trustees, Mao Ohuabunwa, has strongly rejected the announcement of his expulsion from the party, insisting that the action was illegal, baseless, and carried out by a group he described as an “unauthorised” assembly of individuals with no powers to take decisions on behalf of the main opposition party in Nigeria.
In a statement released on Monday through his media office, the former Senator representing Abia North in Nigeria’s National Assembly outlined that he was not aware of any legitimate internal process leading to such an action. He maintained that a separate gathering scheduled at the Peoples Democratic Party national secretariat in Abuja was equally invalid, stressing that the only events recognised by the party’s official structure were the duly planned Board of Trustees meeting and the National Executive Committee meeting fixed for Tuesday.
Ohuabunwa, who is publicly associated with the camp of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, dismissed the recently concluded National Elective Convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State, as insignificant to the true leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party. Okay News reports that he described the exercise as a poorly organised gathering with no constitutional basis.
He stated, “It is amusing for anyone to suggest that I, a founding father and current chairman of the conscience of our party, was expelled at a social gathering that some people are calling a convention.”
The politician argued that those who converged in Ibadan over the weekend merely participated in a “social end-of-year event among friends” and not a decision-making session of the party. He referenced his presence at the historic 1998 meeting held at the former Abuja Sheraton Hotel, now known as the Continental Hotel, where national figures such as Alex Ekwueme, Solomon Lar and Adamu Ciroma laid the foundation of what later became the Peoples Democratic Party.
Ohuabunwa urged party members across all states and geopolitical regions to remain calm while awaiting pending legal rulings. He recalled that a number of cases, including Federal High Court orders prohibiting the party from conducting any convention, were still under consideration at the Court of Appeal.
He added, “As loyal party men and women, it is incumbent on us to follow the law. We must wait for the courts and, at the same time, embrace reconciliation and unity.”
He called on all factions within the Peoples Democratic Party to close ranks and prioritise rebuilding the institution based on fairness, democracy, and total inclusion while warning against divisive actions carried out through unofficial gatherings.
The recent national convention held in Ibadan had produced former Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Kabiru Turaki, as the new National Chairman, and former Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Taofeek Arapaja, as National Secretary. It also led to the expulsion of several influential politicians, including Nyesom Wike; suspended National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu; former National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade; former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose; and Imo State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Austin Nwachukwu, among others, on allegations of anti-party activities.
The motion seeking their removal from the party was presented by former Deputy National Chairman (South), Bode George, and seconded by the Bauchi State Chairman, Samaila Buga. Following this, Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, who leads the Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum, conducted a voice vote that overwhelmingly favoured the expulsion.
Meanwhile, two opposing camps are planning separate meetings at the party’s national headquarters located at Wadata Plaza, Abuja. The Wike-aligned group has arranged its Board of Trustees session for 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, while the National Executive Committee loyal to the newly elected National Working Committee will convene at 2:00 p.m. at the same venue.
Kabiru Turaki, the newly elected National Chairman, told journalists in Abuja that nothing would prevent him and his team from holding their inaugural National Executive Committee meeting, adding that the Nigeria Police Force had assured him of adequate protection to guard against any disorder.
