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By Myke Agunwa, Abuja
The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has threatened to impose severe sanctions on members involved in anti-party activities, particularly those endorsing President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.
Recall that some members of the main opposition party have publicly thrown their weight behind the re-election of Tinubu irrespective of whoever emerges as the candidate of the PDP in the 2027 primary.
Specifically, the defunct G-5 led by Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike, former governor of Ekiti State Ayodele Fayose and even some serving governors, including Osun State governor Ademola Adeleke, have publicly endorsed Tinubu for a second term.
However, in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba on Friday, the party frowned at prominent members involved in persistent public media outbursts against the party,
By this, he meant members “whose actions and utterances, including their public declaration of support and willingness to work for the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 Presidential election in violation of the provision of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017). This constitutes a serious threat to the stability and sustenance of our party”.
Quoting relevant sections of the PDP Constitution, specifically, Section 10 (6), the statement stressed that “No member of the party shall align with other parties or groups to undermine the party or any of its elected government”.
“Such anti-party activities have continued to impact negatively on the PDP leading to division, disaffection and heavy hemorrhaging of members with the capacity to diminish our Party’s electoral fortune if not immediately checked.
“In the light of the foregoing and the instance of protecting and preserving the existence of our Party and its electoral fortune, the NWC, pursuant to the provisions of Section 59 (1) of the PDP Constitution hereby issues a strong reprimand against such anti-party activities and cautions those involved to retrace their steps or face stiffer sanctions as provided in the PDP Constitution”.
The NWC charged all members of the party to remain loyal and work assiduously towards the successful conduct of the PDP National Convention scheduled to hold on the 15th and 16th November, 2025 in Ibadan, the Oyo State Capital.
The Acting National Chairman of the party, Amb. Iliya Damagum had during an interview with the BBC Hausa programme, Gane Mana Hanya, revealed that Wike and his co-travelers could not be sanctioned for anti-party activities because the disciplinary committee set up by the party failed to act decisively on over 40 petitions submitted to it.
“The committee was handed over 40 petitions that needed attention, but it only chose to act on that of the national secretary. If the committee had acted on those petitions, maybe we would not be here today,” he stated.
He added that there were sufficient grounds to have expelled Wike and others from the PDP, but those responsible at the time declined to take action for reasons best known to them.
On the same note, The PDP National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature, during a meeting of the NWC with chairmen of the 36 state chapters and the FCT, directed them to identify members involved in anti-party activities during the 2023 general elections so that they could be sanctioned.