PDP NEC expels Makinde, Bala Mohammed, Others as Police teargassed PDP secretariat

The 103rd NEC meeting held on Tuesday at the PDP National Secretariat in Abuja approved the expulsion of Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal, former Board of Trustees Chairman Senator Adolphus Wabara, former Deputy National Chairman (South) Taofeek Arapaja, and several other top party figures for alleged anti-party activities.

The NEC also ratified the dissolution of the party’s State Executive Committees in Bauchi, Oyo, Zamfara, Yobe, Lagos, and Ekiti States following what it described as grave violations of party rules and disobedience to court orders. The decisions were reached at

Acting National Chairman, Alhaji Mohammed Abdulrahman, who presented the memo for the expulsions, said the affected officials acted in disregard of subsisting court judgments, a development he said had brought the party into disrepute.

Reading the communiqué, National Secretary Senator Samuel Anyanwu said the NEC meeting was convened to address issues threatening the unity and constitutional order of the party.

NEC expressed concern that some members violated court orders by organising and attending an unauthorised convention, leading to confusion, factionalisation, and widespread defections of governors and lawmakers.

It reaffirmed that the PDP’s legitimacy rests on strict adherence to its constitution and the Nigerian Constitution.

NEC approved disciplinary measures against the following individuals:
Adolphus Wabara, Olabode George, Ben Obi, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN), Bala Mohammed, Seyi Makinde, Dauda Lawal, Taofiq Arapaja, Setonji Koshoedo, Okechukwu Obiechina Daniel, Woyengikuro Daniel, Mohammed Kadade Suleiman, Emmanuel Ogidi, Sumaila Adamu Burga, Umar Sani, Udom Emmanuel and Emmanuel Enorden.

The NEC also ratified Alhaji Mohammed Abdulrahman as Acting National Chairman of the party.

The committee instructed the party’s legal team to initiate constitutional processes to recover the seats of all elected officials who defected from the PDP, in line with Sections 68(1)(g) and 109(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution.

It also approved a nationwide reconciliation process aimed at rebuilding trust ahead of the 2027 general elections, alongside a comprehensive membership audit and revalidation exercise.

NEC stressed that its latest actions mark the end of what it called the “era of indiscipline,” insisting that personal ambition would no longer supersede party stability.

Meanwhile, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed among other senior party officials who forcefully entered the National Executive Committee (NEC) Hall of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Secretariat, Wadata Plaza were teargassed by personnel of the Nigerian Police as tensions escalate between rival party factions.

A heavy deployment of police, officers from the Directorate of State Services (DSS), and other security personnel has been stationed around the Zone 5 secretariat, while supporters of both factions were seen drumming and singing near the venue.

The trio were denied access to the secretariat by a faction led by Senator Samuel Anyanwu, which had stationed members at the main gate. As tensions escalated and the gathering became rowdy, police deployed tear gas to disperse the crowd.

Access to the secretariat was eventually restored when FCT Minister Nyesom Wike arrived at Wadata House, prompting the gate to be thrown open and allowing supporters to enter.

Governors in attendance in one of the rival factions included Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa), Caleb Muftwang (Plateau), Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), and host governor Seyi Makinde (Oyo).

Prominent PDP figures also attended, including former Senate President Adolphus Wabara and former governors Udom Emmanuel, Babangida Aliyu, and Ibrahim Shekarau, among other senior party stalwarts.

The Convention saw the emergence of Turaki as the new party chairman, and the expulsion of some party chieftains including the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike.

Recall that despite two separate court rulings attempting to halt the PDP convention, the Umar Damagum-led National Working Committee proceeded last weekend, relying on a counter-order obtained from the Oyo State High Court.