A major political upheaval rocked the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday as the faction led by Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, announced the expulsion of several prominent party leaders, including Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, and party elder statesman Chief Bode George.

The announcement, made after an emergency meeting of the Wike-backed National Executive Committee (NEC) at the faction’s Abuja base, cited “gross anti-party activities, persistent insubordination, and attempts to destabilise the party” as the reasons for the expulsions.

According to the statement issued by the factional National Publicity Secretary, the affected members were accused of working covertly to undermine the PDP ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The statement read in part:

“Following extensive deliberations, the NEC has resolved to expel the following individuals from the Peoples Democratic Party with immediate effect for their roles in acts that threaten the unity, cohesion, and survival of the party.”

Detail shortly…

Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has criticized claims that Christians are not being killed in Nigeria, calling such statements “insensitive and cruel” and describing the notion that “we bury empty coffins” as a “monstrous mendacity.”

In a now-deleted post on his official X handle, Fani-Kayode stated, “Christians are targeted and killed in large numbers in Nigeria,” adding that anyone who denies this reality, downplays it, or claims otherwise is “a perfidious and specious liar.”

He clarified that Muslims are also victims, saying, “What must be clearly understood, however, is that Muslims are also targeted and killed by the same Islamist terrorists in equal numbers.”

Fani-Kayode emphasized that terrorists are indiscriminate in their attacks, targeting both Christians and Muslims, and insisted that “something needs to be done about it.”

The former minister cited recent incidents to illustrate his point: the 25 girls and their Principal abducted from a school in Kebbi State, whose Vice Principal was killed, were Muslims, not Christians.

Similarly, the 64 people abducted in Zamfara State on Saturday, three of whom were killed, were also Muslims.

Conversely, the 12 girls abducted in Kaduna State two days ago were Christians, and soldiers killed in Borno State were both Christians and Muslims.

Fani-Kayode noted, “The terrorists that commit these heinous crimes and atrocities and that indulge in the genocide and ethnic cleansing of our people do not care about the faith of their victims and do not represent any faith.”

“They do not see or care about religion. They only care about the spilling of the innocent blood and abduction of our people.”

“They only care about terrorising innocent civilians, indulging in barbaric carnage and in mass murdering both Christians and Muslims, occupying their land and stealing and pillaging their resources.”

Describing the perpetrators as “beasts,” Fani-Kayode said they must never be granted amnesty.

“I strongly reject the suggestion by some that they should. There is too much blood on their hands for that. There can be no peace or mercy for the wicked. God may forgive them, but we must not.”

He added, “They are evil, they have sold their bodies, spirits and souls to satan, and they are not worthy of life.”

“There is only one answer for them and that is for the Federal Government and Armed Forces to muster the courage, means, resources and firm resolve to crush them ruthlessly and send them back to hell.”

“That is the answer and not to spin the whole thing into a Christian versus Muslim narrative or to support the reckless idea of an American invasion, which would make matters even worse and which would only swell the ranks of the terrorists.”

Fani-Kayode also urged Nigerians to pray for the country, warning that external forces seek to divide and destroy it.

“Nigeria must not be turned into Congo, Somalia, Darfur, Gaza, Afghanistan, Libya, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria or any other war-torn and decimated failed state. Nigeria must not be used as an arena or battleground for a proxy war for mineral resources between the superpowers.”

“Nigeria must not be turned into yet another pitiful, pathetic and sorry victim of foreign forces and interests and western imperialism. We must remain united, strong and focused, and we must stand shoulder to shoulder and confront the common enemy together.”

He called for support for the government’s efforts, saying, “Finally, we must support the Federal Government in its efforts to put an end to the madness that has been unleashed on our people.”

As national calls for the release of Nnamdi Kanu intensify, 44 federal lawmakers from across Nigeria have submitted a two-page letter and resolution to President Bola Tinubu, urging him to release the IPOB leader from detention and initiate a political dialogue to address South-East challenges.

The lawmakers called on the President to invoke his constitutional powers to release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and convene an inclusive political roundtable involving all relevant parties to find a lasting solution through a political window.

In their letter, the 44 members of the House of Representatives, writing under the aegis of “Concerned Federal Lawmakers,” requested that President Tinubu direct the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, to exercise his constitutional powers to discontinue the prosecution of Kanu.

The letter, signed by Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, Hon. Obi Aguocha, Hon. Murphy Osaro, Hon. Peter Akpanke, Hon. Mudshiru Lukman, Hon. Paul Nnamchi, Hon. Barr. Sunday Cyriacus, Hon. Obed Shehu, Hon. Engr. Dominic, Hon. Chief Ugwu Emmanuel, Hon. Daniel Asama Ago, Hon. Chike John Okafor, Hon. Adam Ogene Ogbaru, and others, emphasized the need for dialogue and national reconciliation.

The lawmakers wrote,

“Dear Mr. President, THE NATIONAL INTEREST DRIVEN RESOLUTION BY CONCERNED FEDERAL LAWMAKERS ON THE ISSUE OF MAZI NNAMDI KANU CONTINUED DETENTION.

After a closed-door strategic meeting of the following federal lawmakers committed to promotion of national unity and stability; and after extensive consultations across all party lines and different ethnic groups, we hereby wrote and subscribe to this Letter to Mr. President, concerning Mazi Nnamdi Kanu:

Driven by the abiding and urgent need for national reconciliation and healing; and Having noted the Federal Government’s open negotiations with militants and different agitating groups in different parts of Nigeria; and in view of the insecurity that has pervaded Southeast since late 2015 and which spiked since 2021; and in the realisation of the many domestic court and international tribunal pronouncements in favour of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu; and in the face of the growing national groundswell supporting the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and for the discontinuance of his prosecution.

“We, the within-named federal lawmakers, hereby respectfully and earnestly request our dear President, His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as follows: To, as soon as practicable, direct the Attorney-General of the Federation to exercise his constitutional powers and discontinue the prosecution of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu; and To, pursuant to the discontinuance of the prosecution, initiate a constructive dialogue, aimed at seeking a just political solution of the matter.

“We are grateful to you, our dear President, for Your Excellency’s prompt consideration of our request; and please be assured of our continuing respects for your high office.”

DAILY GAZETTE reports that the lawmakers specifically urged President Tinubu to invoke Section 174 of the 1999 Constitution to discontinue the prosecution of Kanu.

Hon. Obinna Aguocha, representing Ikwuano/Umuahia North/Umuahia South Federal Constituency in Abia State, highlighted constitutional defects in Kanu’s charges, including the alleged illegal rendition from Kenya, which he described as having “poisoned the prosecution’s limbs.”

Aguocha argued that Kanu’s continued detention has worsened insecurity and contributed to the economic crisis in the South-East region.

Former Kaduna State governor Ahmed Makarfi has resigned from his position as secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees (BoT), insisting that the party must uphold its zoning arrangement to preserve fairness and balance within its leadership.

Makarfi’s resignation comes in the wake of the emergence of former Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Kabiru Turaki, as the PDP’s new national chairman at the party’s convention on Saturday. With both men hailing from the North-West, Makarfi said remaining in office would violate the party’s zoning tradition.

In a letter addressed to BoT Chairman Adolphus Wabara on Monday, the former governor recalled that he had attempted to resign earlier.

“You may recall that about two months ago, I had resigned as secretary of the board and posted the same on the board’s WhatsApp platform,” the letter reads.

“Mr Chairman, you may recall that you personally urged me to stay on until after a convention that produced a chairman.”

According to him, the reason he wanted to step aside then is the same reason he is leaving now.

“The principal reason for my resignation then and now was, and is still, my belief that the national chairman of the party and the secretary should not come from the same geopolitical zone,” he said.

“Now that a chairman has emerged from the north-west, where I come from, it is necessary to give him full space to do the needful.”

Makarfi added that remaining in the position would create “an impression of imbalance” in the party’s leadership configuration.

“Accordingly, I hereby formally resign as secretary of the board of trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party with effect from today, November 17, 2025,” he stated.

The former governor, who led Kaduna State between 1999 and 2007, thanked Wabara and other members of the BoT for the cordial working relationship he enjoyed.

“I truly appreciate the very respectful relationship between us during my period as secretary,” he said.
“I also appreciate all board members for their support and the good relationship that prevailed during my period as secretary.”

Supporters of the Nyesom Wike-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have taken over the streets surrounding Wadata Plaza, the party’s national headquarters in Wuse, Zone 5, Abuja.

The protesters, largely composed of women and youth groups, carried placards targeting PDP National Chairman, Mr. Tanimu Turaki, SAN, with messages such as “No to Turaki” and “Turaki must go.”

Turaki, a former Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, was elected PDP National Chairman at a disputed convention on Saturday, which the Wike-led faction boycotted.

Both factions had scheduled executive meetings at the party secretariat for Tuesday.

On Tuesday morning, the Wike-backed faction, led by the sacked Acting National Chairman Abdulrahman Mohammed, took control of the secretariat by 9:45 am.

The group was accompanied by heavily armed police officers, who secured strategic positions around the building and nearby streets.

At the time of reporting, no members of the Kabiru Turaki-led faction had arrived at the secretariat.

Detail shortly..