The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has taken one of its boldest disciplinary steps in recent years, expelling several high-profile members including Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike, former Ekiti State governor Ayodele Fayose, and the party’s embattled National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu. The decision was announced on Saturday during the party’s elective national convention in Ibadan, Oyo State, following the adoption of a motion citing alleged anti-party activities and gross violations of the PDP constitution.

The motion, moved by PDP founding father Chief Olabode George and seconded by Bauchi State governor Bala Mohammed, was overwhelmingly ratified by delegates present at the convention. In addition to Wike, Fayose, and Anyanwu, other expelled figures include Umar Bature, Adeyemi Ajibade (SAN), Mohammed Abdulrahman, Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, Austine Nwachukwu, Abraham Amah, George Turner, and Dan Orbih. Party leaders described the move as a “landmark decision to restore unity, discipline, and focus ahead of the 2027 general elections.”

Chief George, in his remarks, accused the expelled members of engaging in activities “aimed at destroying the party from within.” He stressed that political parties are voluntary organizations bound by rules, and members who consistently undermine those rules cannot be allowed to remain. The PDP’s National Chairman, Umar Damagun, echoed this sentiment, insisting that the expulsions were necessary to safeguard the party’s future.

The decision has already stirred intense reactions across Nigeria’s political landscape. Supporters of the move argue that it was long overdue, pointing to Wike’s open defiance of party leadership and his controversial role in the 2023 elections. Critics, however, warn that expelling such influential figures could deepen internal divisions and weaken the PDP’s chances in 2027.

For Fayose, who recently made headlines by issuing burial directives on his 65th birthday, the expulsion marks another dramatic turn in his political journey. For Wike, currently serving as FCT Minister under the APC-led federal government, the decision formalizes what many had seen as his estrangement from the PDP. And for Anyanwu, whose tenure as National Secretary was marred by factional disputes, the expulsion underscores the party’s determination to move past internal wrangling.

As the dust settles, the PDP’s gamble will be tested in the months ahead. By cutting ties with some of its most recognizable names, the party has signaled a desire to rebuild discipline and credibility. Whether this bold step strengthens or fractures the PDP further remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the convention in Ibadan has reshaped the party’s political terrain in ways that will reverberate well into the next election cycle