PDP Crisis: Ohuabunwa Rejects Expulsion, Calls for Calm

A factional chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Board of Trustees, Mao Ohuabunwa, has downplayed a recent gathering of politicians in Ibadan, describing it as a social end‑of‑year event among friends. He made the remarks after reports that he had been expelled from the party, a move he called illegitimate and the product of an unauthorized meeting.

In a statement, Ohuabunwa rejected a meeting that had been announced for the PDP national secretariat in Abuja, insisting that only the scheduled Board of Trustees meeting and the National Executive Committee session would proceed as planned. The Abia senator, an ally of Minister Nyesom Wike, also dismissed the recently concluded National Elective Convention in Ibadan as inconsequential.

Ohuabunwa, a founding father and current chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees, questioned the legitimacy of his expulsion, emphasizing that he had been present at the 1998 meeting where the PDP was conceived by notable statesmen. He urged party members to remain calm, citing pending court rulings—including Federal High Court orders barring the party from holding any convention—that are awaiting determination at the Court of Appeal.

The senator stressed the importance of following the law and awaiting the courts’ decisions, while also calling for reconciliation and unity within the party. With internal conflicts and court cases ongoing, Ohuabunwa’s statement reflects the divisions within the PDP. The scheduled Board of Trustees meeting and National Executive Committee session on Tuesday are expected to address these internal issues and chart a way forward.

The PDP has been embroiled in internal conflicts, with various factions and interest groups vying for control. The recent convention and Ohuabunwa’s expulsion have further exacerbated the divisions, raising concerns about the party’s unity and its ability to challenge the ruling party in future elections. As the party navigates these challenges, the outcome of the pending court cases and the decisions made at the upcoming meetings will be crucial in determining the PDP’s future direction.