A Necessary Purge: How Expelling Wike Offers the PDP a Final Chance at Resurrection -By Jeff Okoroafor

In the turbulent theatre of Nigerian politics, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has often been its own most compelling drama, and its own most formidable antagonist. For years, it has wrestled with a gordian knot of its own making: how to discipline powerful members who actively sabotage the party while enjoying its privileges. This past weekend, at its National Convention in Ibadan, the PDP finally drew a sword.

The expulsion of Nyesom Wike, the pugnacious Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), alongside former Ekiti Governor Ayo Fayose and others, for “anti-party activities” is the most significant and consequential move the party has made in a decade. To the casual observer, it may look like a party tearing itself apart. In reality, it is a desperate but necessary act of self-preservation—a surgical removal of a malignant faction that had long chosen to operate as an opposition within the opposition.

For the PDP to have any hope of presenting itself as a credible alternative to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), this purge was not just advisable; it was imperative.

The Anatomy of a Rebellion: A Timeline of Wike’s Insubordination

The case against Nyesom Wike is not one of mere political disagreement; it is a textbook study of systematic and brazen insubordination, conducted with breathtaking audacity. The evidence is a public record, played out not in secret meetings but on national television and in glaring political actions.

• May 2022: The Genesis of the Schism. After losing the PDP presidential primary to Atiku Abubakar, Wike’s grievance transformed from internal discontent into open warfare. He felt entitled to the Vice-Presidential ticket, which was instead awarded to Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa. This perceived snub became the catalyst for a campaign of vengeance.
• July – December 2022: The “G-5” Orchestra. Wike formed and led the infamous “G-5 Governors” or “Integrity Group”—a bloc of five PDP governors (Wike, Samuel Ortom [Benue], Okezie Ikpeazu [Abia], Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi [Enugu], and Seyi Makinde [Oyo]). Their stated mission was to demand the resignation of the then-National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, arguing that both the presidential candidate and chairman could not be from the same region (the North). Their real mission was to cripple Atiku’s campaign. They embarked on a series of public “consultations” that were, in effect, rallies to undermine their own party’s standard-bearer.
• January – February 2023: The Ultimate Betrayal. In the heat of the presidential campaign, Wike and his group openly withdrew support from Atiku. While stopping short of a formal endorsement, Wike campaigned for his preferred candidates across parties, most notably working for the APC’s Bola Tinubu in his home state of Rivers. He instructed his supporters to vote for the APC presidential candidate while supporting PDP candidates for other positions—a masterclass in political sabotage. This direct cannibalization of the PDP vote in the South-South, a traditional stronghold, significantly contributed to Atiku’s defeat.
• Post-Election 2023: The Bitter Harvest. Rather than face consequences, Wike was rewarded by the victor. President Tinubu, a master of political co-option, appointed him as the FCT Minister—a powerful position in the APC government. Wike accepted, and has since served as a cabinet-level official in an administration he ostensibly ran against, while still claiming to be a member of the PDP. This dual identity was the ultimate insult, a living, breathing embodiment of the party’s impotence.
• Ongoing: The Fifth Columnist in Power. As FCT Minister, Wike has used his position to weaken the PDP structurally. He has been accused of undermining the PDP-led government in Rivers State, engaging in a bitter power struggle with Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his successor and a fellow party man. His actions have thrown Rivers State, a key PDP asset, into a prolonged political crisis, distracting the state government and draining the party’s national resources.

Why Expulsion Brings Reprieve: The Case for Party Sanity

The expulsion of Wike and his cohort is not an act of suicide; it is the party’s first real breath in years. Here’s why:

1. Restoration of Basic Discipline: A political party that cannot enforce its own constitution is not a party; it is a mob. By finally wielding the big stick, the PDP has sent a clear message: membership carries obligations, and serial, public betrayal will no longer be tolerated. This is foundational to any organization that hopes to be taken seriously.

2. Clarifying the Battle Lines: For years, the PDP has been fighting a war on two fronts: against the APC and against the Wike faction within. This expulsion ends the debilitating internal civil war. The party can now focus its energy, resources, and messaging on attacking the ruling party’s record on the economy, security, and corruption, rather than constantly managing internal rebellion.

3. Boosting Morale of the Loyalists: Nothing demoralizes a party’s rank and file more than seeing saboteurs prosper. The silent majority of PDP members who campaigned tirelessly for its candidates in 2023, only to be undercut by their own leaders, have finally seen justice. This move validates their loyalty and re-energizes the base.

4. Reclaiming Ideological Coherence (or the search for it): With the disruptive faction gone, the PDP has an opportunity to engage in the difficult but necessary task of defining what it stands for in 2027. The constant blackmail and veto power wielded by Wike’s group stifled any meaningful ideological debate. The party can now attempt to build a coherent policy platform beyond mere accession to power.

5. A Strategic Gambit for 2027: This is a high-risk, high-reward strategy. While it may temporarily cost the party some support in Wike’s stronghold, it presents a clearer, more disciplined product to the Nigerian electorate. Voters are cynical about parties that appear chaotic and unprincipled. Presenting a united front, even a smaller one, is ultimately more attractive than a large, fractious coalition held together by nothing but a shared label.

The Road Ahead: Perilous but Purposeful

The path forward is fraught with challenges. Wike is a political fighter with immense resources and a vindictive streak. He will use his position as FCT Minister to lure more PDP members to the APC and will work tirelessly to weaken the party further, particularly in the South-South.

However, the PDP has chosen the only path that offers a chance of long-term survival. Keeping Wike was a slow, humiliating death by a thousand cuts. Expelling him is a painful, definitive break that offers a chance to heal and rebuild.

In the end, a house divided against itself cannot stand. For years, the PDP’s house was not just divided; a section of it was occupied by a hostile force. By finally evicting that force, the PDP has, for the first time in a long time, given itself a fighting chance. The operation was risky, but the patient was already on life support. Now, the difficult work of rehabilitation begins.

Jeff Okoroafor

Jeff Okoroafor is a social accountability advocate and a political commentator focused on governance, accountability, and social justice in West Africa.