The internal crisis rocking Nigeria's main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has escalated into a public war of attrition. The two major factions battling for control have now resorted to issuing official counter-disclaimers, each declaring the other's key members expelled from the party.
A Tit-for-Tat Expulsion Battle
This development marks a new low in the party's long-running internal strife. The factions are led by Kabiru Turaki, the party's national chairman from one camp, and Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Both groups are locked in a fierce struggle for control of the PDP's leadership and its national secretariat in Abuja.
In a move described as a season of tit-for-tat expulsions, each faction has released a formal notice disclaiming the other. They have both insisted that their opponents are no longer legitimate members of the opposition party, creating immense confusion among members and the public.
The Turaki Faction's First Strike
The Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC) took the first major step. It published a disclaimer notice listing 11 prominent politicians it claimed were expelled during the party's elective convention held in Ibadan from November 15 to 16, 2025.
The listed individuals include high-profile names such as FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose, and Samuel Anyanwu. According to reports, Turaki stated this action was necessary to restore discipline within the PDP's ranks.
The faction's notice carried a stern warning, stating that "any interactions or representations made by these expelled members are not authorised by our great party." It further cautioned that anyone dealing with the affected politicians "does so at their own peril."
Wike's Camp Fires Back with a Longer List
Not to be outdone, the faction aligned with Minister Nyesom Wike responded swiftly with a powerful counter-disclaimer. This group named a larger list of 18 politicians it claimed were expelled by the party's National Executive Committee (NEC) on November 18, 2025.
The Wike faction accused these individuals of offences ranging from anti-party activities to gross misconduct. It declared that they were "falsely parading themselves as members or officers of the Peoples Democratic Party" and asked the public to disregard any claims they make.
In a direct challenge to the Turaki-led NWC's authority, the counter-disclaimer added, "Anybody parading himself as a newly elected national officer of the party is an impostor and a meddlesome interloper."
Certificates of Expulsion and a Call for Rebuilding
Amidst this chaos, it was revealed that the Turaki-led PDP had taken the formal step of sending expulsion certificates to Nyesom Wike, Ayodele Fayose, and nine others. Turaki disclosed this to journalists on December 2, 2025, stating the move was part of efforts to sanitize the party ahead of the crucial 2027 general elections.
The crisis has drawn the attention of elder statesmen. Former military President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) recently broke his silence on the matter. During a meeting in Minna, IBB charged the newly elected national chairman, Kabiru Turaki, with the critical task of rebuilding the opposition party.
He urged Turaki to correct past mistakes, strengthen the party's structures, and prioritise unity and consultation as the PDP battles its severe internal fractures.
The issuance of counter-disclaimers by the two dominant PDP factions signifies a deepening of the crisis that threatens the very foundation of Nigeria's former ruling party. With the 2027 elections on the horizon, this internal war for control could have significant implications for the country's political landscape, potentially weakening the opposition's ability to present a united front. The coming weeks will be crucial in determining whether the party can find a path to reconciliation or fracture further.
