By DAYO ADESULU
Faction Moves to Regain Control Days After Expulsion of Key Members
The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party has taken a sharper turn as the faction loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, announced a PDP emergency meeting involving both the Board of Trustees and the National Executive Committee. The meetings are slated for Tuesday, November 18, 2025, in Abuja.
The notice, issued on Monday by the factional National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, and circulated by the media aide to the FCT Minister, Lere Olayinka, confirmed that the gathering will take place at the NEC Hall of the PDP National Secretariat, Wadata Plaza.
According to the announcement, the Board of Trustees will convene at 11:00 a.m., followed by the National Executive Committee meeting at 2:00 p.m. The notice emphasized that attendance is mandatory because “crucial matters will be discussed and addressed.”
These developments mark another major escalation in the internal power struggle that has weakened the opposition party throughout the year.
Backdrop: Expulsions at the Ibadan Convention
The announcement of the PDP emergency meeting comes only days after a dramatic National Convention in Ibadan, Oyo State, where the party expelled several prominent figures. Those removed included Wike himself, Anyanwu, former National Legal Adviser Kamaldeen Ajibade, former Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose, and Imo PDP Chairman Austin Nwachukwu. They were accused of persistent anti-party activities.
The motion for their removal was moved by former PDP Deputy National Chairman (South), Chief Bode George, and seconded by Bauchi State PDP Chairman, Samaila Buga. Delegates approved the motion in a loud voice vote that underscored the determination of the mainstream PDP leadership to assert control.
Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, who chairs the PDP Governors’ Forum, presided over the session. His final endorsement signaled a united front within the convention hall, even as tensions simmered beneath the surface.
Faction Responds With Counter-Moves
Despite the expulsions, the Wike-backed bloc has continued to act as though it remains the legitimate PDP leadership structure. Monday’s notice appears to be a direct attempt to challenge the decisions made in Ibadan and reinforce the faction’s influence.
The scheduling of a PDP emergency meeting involving both the BoT and NEC indicates a move to mobilize loyal supporters, consolidate strength, and possibly issue counter-directives. Party insiders familiar with the plan said the gathering aims to “reset the narrative” after the convention.
A source sympathetic to the faction noted that the leadership dispute is “far from over,” suggesting that both sides are preparing for a prolonged confrontation over control of the PDP machinery.
Tensions Heightened by Recent Headlines
The renewed push by Wike’s faction comes at a time when several controversies have dominated the national space. One of the most recent involved the alleged assassination attempt on Lt. A.M. Yarima, the naval officer who clashed with the FCT Minister during a disputed land enforcement operation. The police, however, issued a statement dismissing the claim.
This environment of heightened political tension has intensified public scrutiny around every move connected to Wike, who remains one of the most polarizing political figures in Nigeria today.
Uncertain Road Ahead
The upcoming PDP emergency meeting raises several questions:
Will the mainstream PDP leadership ignore the gathering or move to block it?
Will the party impose further sanctions?
And will Wike’s faction escalate its resistance?
For now, neither side is backing down. As both camps dig deeper into the conflict, analysts warn that the prolonged infighting may weaken the party’s already fragile ability to serve as a coherent opposition ahead of the 2027 general election.
What remains clear is that Tuesday’s meetings—if they hold—will signal the next chapter in a fierce internal struggle that has reshaped the political landscape within the PDP.
