Wike’s expulsion: Ardo urges Fintiri to resign from PDP for going against nat’l convention
A frontline political activist and Adamawa State governorship candidate of Social Democratic Party (SDP) in 2023 guber polls, Dr. Umar Ardo has asked governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State to honorably resign from PDP over disagreement with the expulsion of FCT minister, Nyesom Wike.
Governor Fintiri who is the chairman of the PDP 2025 elective national convention has vehemently rejected the expulsion of the former governor of Rivers State on Saturday during the ongoing convention in Ibadan.
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In a statement made available to newsmen by Fintiri’s Chief Press Secretary, Humwashi Wonosikou, the governor distanced himself from the purported suspension of Wike, who was hitherto a major financier of the party.
”Adamawa State Governor and Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party 2025 Elective National Convention, Rt. Hon. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, CON has disassociated himself from the position of PDP expelling the Honourable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP),” a statement by his chief press secretary, Humwashi Wonosikou disclosed..
Citing reasons for the rejection of the expulsion, the governor said “the decision is not in the best interest of the party, and will not be party to any attempt that could further plunge the PDP into unending crisis.”
“As a faithful party member, my position is clear: I stand for the peace and stability of the PDP, and I will not support anything that could lead to its disintegration. I believe that peace and reconciliation are the only ways forward for our great party,” he said.
He urged all stakeholders to work towards healing the divisions within the party and to strive for unity and cohesion, stating that as a party man, he remains committed to support efforts that promote peace, stability, and progress within the PDP.
The Governor reiterated that his position is guided by the desire for peace and reconciliation, and will continue to work towards achieving this goal.
The governor’s position introduced another layer of controversy to the embattled party which has been torn by crisis leading to the expulsion of Wike, former Ekiti State governor, Ayo Fayose and former national secretary of the party, Sen Samuel Anyanwu.
The unexpected but weighty decision was taken when Chief Olabode George, a former National Vice Chairman (South), moved a motion for the expulsion of the affected chieftains on the convention floor. The motion was immediately seconded by Hon. Samaila Burga, Chairman of the PDP in Bauchi State.
The move comes after days of internal tension, legal battles, and a fierce push by the Wike-aligned faction to halt the convention entirely.
Ahead of Saturday’s event, Wike’s loyalists had approached the courts in an attempt to stop the convention from holding. However, the PDP secured favourable judgment from an Oyo State High Court, giving the party the legal green light to proceed.
Despite this, the faction insisted that the Ibadan gathering was illegitimate.
Mao Ohuabunwa, Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) in the Wike-led faction, publicly dismissed the convention, saying it held no legal weight.
He argued that the National Working Committee (NWC) of their faction had agreed to obey court rulings and therefore would not participate in what he described as a “jamboree.”
“Ibadan is a public place; people can go there for anything but not for convention,” Ohuabunwa stated.
“Anyone attending should simply go to relax. We are not part of the exercise.”
He also said that Senator Anyanwu had issued a circular announcing the postponement of the convention.
The faction’s acting National Chairman, Abdulrahman Muhammad, urged delegates nationwide to boycott the convention, insisting that the proper time for a lawful convention would come.
He emphasized that their camp remained committed to rebuilding the PDP into a stronger, more united opposition.
Reacting to the unfolding developments, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike commended his loyalists for “defending the PDP” and maintaining firmness amid the crisis.
He insisted that his group would continue to uphold the rule of law and resist internal intimidation.
“I will continue to support you. I won’t betray you,” Wike assured his supporters.
But reacting to the unfolding drama, Ardo urged Fintiri to resign from the party for failing to align with the decision of the national convention which is the highest decision making body of the party.
”I’m not surprised at all that Fintiri took this exception to Wike’s expulsion by the convention. I am convinced he took this position not based on any principle but rather purely on selfish reasons. It is because he is a key beneficiary of Wike’s political and financial largesse.
”However, since this is the decision of the convention, the highest body of the party, duly moved, seconded and adopted, a process that he himself chaired, the most honorable thing for him to do is to stand down as the convention chairman and resign from the party altogether.
”But as it is, he cannot eat his cake with his right hand and still have it in his left hand. It’s foolish to think so. Things don’t work this way,” Ardo said.
