Mao Ohuabunwa stand rejects disputed PDP expulsion as he says only lawful party meetings and court rulings will determine the way forward
According to his media office in Abuja, the Mao Ohuabunwa stand became unmistakably clear on Monday as the factional chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Board of Trustees dismissed his reported expulsion as invalid and the outcome of an unauthorised gathering.
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The Mao Ohuabunwa stand centred on his rejection of the Ibadan National Elective Convention, which he described as inconsequential. He argued that the group that met in Oyo State merely attended what he called a social end of year event, not a legitimate party convention capable of making binding decisions.
Ohuabunwa, a former senator aligned with the Nyesom Wike camp, stressed that he remained a founding father of the PDP and declared it amusing for anyone to suggest he was expelled at what he labelled a casual assembly.
His powerful insistence focused on legality and party discipline, stating that only the duly scheduled BoT and National Executive Committee meetings set for Tuesday would proceed as authorised.
He reminded members of his presence at the historic 1998 Sheraton meeting where the PDP was conceived by Alex Ekwueme, Solomon Lar and Adamu Ciroma, emphasising that history could not be rewritten by those acting outside established procedure.
The Mao Ohuabunwa stand also urged members to remain calm while several related court orders await determination at the Court of Appeal.
He reiterated that the party must embrace unity, respect judicial processes and avoid deepening internal divisions through unsanctioned gatherings.
His remarks came as the newly elected National Chairman, Kabiru Turaki, and other leaders prepared for their own NEC meeting at Wadata Plaza, setting up a dramatic clash of factions.
The Ibadan convention had announced the expulsion of several high profile members, including Wike, Samuel Anyanwu, Kamaldeen Ajibade and Ayo Fayose, a move that has intensified the tension nationwide. While Turaki insisted his meeting would go ahead with police protection, the party remains split over legitimacy and control.
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The Mao Ohuabunwa stand underlines a defining moment for the PDP as it confronts competing claims of authority and a growing struggle for the soul of the opposition party.
