Factional National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Samuel Anyanwu, has dismissed his expulsion from the party, insisting that the decision has no legitimacy and accusing those behind it of violating due process.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Anyanwu criticised the recently concluded PDP National Convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State, calling the exercise a “jamboree” rather than a lawful party gathering. His remarks came just hours after the PDP announced his expulsion alongside several other prominent members.
Anyanwu argued that the convention was fundamentally flawed, claiming many state chapters were not represented because they had yet to conduct their congresses.
“Sixteen states had not even done their congresses; the entire South-East has not done theirs. All that happened yesterday was a jamboree,” he said.
He further alleged that even previous congresses held by the party had not been formally communicated to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), questioning the legal standing of the convention and the decisions taken at the event.
“Even the ones done earlier have not been communicated to INEC,” he added.
According to him, with several states left out of the process, the convention held from Saturday into early Sunday could not be regarded as inclusive or constitutionally valid.
“When I heard somebody yesterday at the convention, when they were celebrating, having their jamboree, saying that we must obey the rules of the party, I laughed,” he said.
‘Who Expelled Me?’
Addressing his purported expulsion, Anyanwu insisted that there was no lawful basis for it.
“I just told you that I was not expelled. Who expelled me? What platform do they have to expel me?” he questioned.
He maintained that the committee announcing his suspension and expulsion chaired by Tom Ikimi lacked the legal authority to do so, pointing out that there is an existing court order relating to his position.
“This is a committee headed by Tom Ikimi, which is saying that they have been committed to my suspension. It was not today. I went to court. It’s a court judgment. It’s a court order,” he said.
Until Saturday’s announcement, Anyanwu was serving as the suspended national secretary of the PDP.
PDP Moves Against High-Profile Members
The PDP, during its 2025 National Convention in Ibadan, expelled several top figures including Anyanwu; Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike; former National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade; former Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose; and Imo PDP Chairman, Austin Nwachukwu, among others. They were accused of engaging in anti-party activities.
The motion for their expulsion was moved by former Deputy National Chairman (South), Bode George, and seconded by Bauchi State PDP Chairman, Samaila Buga. The voice vote that followed, led by Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, saw overwhelming support from delegates.
The development marks an aggressive push by the PDP to assert internal discipline and tackle longstanding divisions ahead of the next electoral cycle.