News From Nigeria
Wike-Backed PDP Expels Makinde, Mohammed, Lawal, George, Others
It also approved the dissolution of the State Executive Committees in Bauchi, Oyo, Zamfara, Yobe, Lagos, and Ekiti States. The Edo State Exco, led by Nosa Ogieva, was, however, affirmed.
The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) loyal to the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, has expelled Governors Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, and Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State.
It also expelled the party’s former Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT), Senator Adolphus Wabara; former National Vice Chairman, Chief Bode George; and the newly elected National Chairman, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki.
It also approved the dissolution of the State Executive Committees in Bauchi, Oyo, Zamfara, Yobe, Lagos, and Ekiti States. The Edo State Exco, led by Nosa Ogieva, was, however, affirmed.
These decisions were taken at the PDP group’s NEC meeting held on Tuesday at the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja.
Its National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, read the communiqué of the NEC meeting, which stated in part:
“NEC approved the expulsion of the following: Adolphus Wabara, Olabode George, Ben Obi, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, Bala Mohammed, Oluseyi Makinde, Dauda Lawal, Taofiq Arapaja, Setonji Koshoedo, Okechukwu Obiechina Daniel, Woyengikuro Daniel, Mohammed Kadade Suleiman, Emmanuel Ogidi, Sumaila Adamu Burga, Umar Sani, Udom Emmanuel, and Emmanuel Enorden,” he said.
“These people have been expelled from our party based on anti-party activities, disobeying of court judgements and other (acts) that cause disaffection in the party.”
He assured party faithful and stakeholders that the decision to expel the members was to stabilise the PDP, insisting that the party would not tolerate any form of impunity or indiscipline within its fold.
The pro-Wike PDP Acting National Chairman, Mohammed Abdulrahman, who presented the memo recommending the expulsions, said the affected party leaders flagrantly disregarded court judgments, thereby bringing the party into disrepute.
This decision followed last Saturday’s PDP national convention in Ibadan, Oyo State, where Wike and ten others, including former governors, serving lawmakers, and key party figures were suspended over alleged anti-party activities.
The Ibadan convention, convened by the other faction of the party, accused Wike’s bloc of attempting to “destabilise the party structure” ahead of a planned nationwide reorganisation.
Earlier on Tuesday, both groups arrived at the PDP National Secretariat in Wadata Plaza, Abuja, to hold parallel NEC and Board of Trustees meetings.
The clash triggered a chaotic scene, as security operatives struggled to separate supporters from both camps, resulting in heated arguments, pushing, and an eventual shutdown of parts of the secretariat before the meetings proceeded separately.
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For democracy to work, citizens must be enlightened. The issue is not about demolition. I am against demolitions. Nearly all the governors in Nigeria are guilty of that because they do it without due process.
To demolish the abode of a person, the government must go to court and obtain a judgement before carrying out any demolition. The governors have been very lawless. The unfortunate thing is that no one has gone to court to challenge these illegal acts. Apart from citizen apathy, the Land Use Decree of 1978 gave unchecked powers to do as they wish with the land that belongs to the people. The governors have unchecked powers in this regard.
This is a military decree that have not been reviewed by the lawmakers because it benefits them as they use their positions and relationship to acquire choice lands in Nigeria.
The process of acquiring land in Nigeria is so opaque that only well-connected people can authenticate their property. In a functioning democracy, a law like this should never exist. No elected person should have unchecked powers. All over Nigeria, the governors are abusing this power.
Part of the unrest in the North can be linked to this abuse of process by these governors who are using their powers to take land from indigenous people. The Land Use Decree gave the governors the hammer and the nails, and the governors have been hammering away carelessly.
No one should have unchecked powers in a democracy. That law came from the military which I have written about extensively.
In a democracy, no one should be given power without checks and balances. No one is coming to save us. We must address these issues under our system of democracy by electing people who will be subject to the will of the people.
As it is right now, a lot of elected politicians are behaving like military dictators because that is all they know and the citizens are apathetic and have been made to feel that the abuse in the hands of elected officials is normal. This is a result of military induced cognitive dissonance and lack of political education.
The soldiers are not the answer to our present malady. They created the problem.
To correct a mistake, you have to rise above the level of understanding where the mistake was made. The Nigerian soldier can never be the solution because they created the sclerosis that is undermining our political process. The answer to problems in a democracy is more democracy, not military coups.
Military coups put the citizens in a state of arrested development. That is what we are experiencing now. If we trust the process, we will find the answers. This issue is not about Wike. It is about due process. You will lose the road if you focus on the mirage.
DR AUSTIN ORETTE WRITES FROM HOUSTON, TEXAS
The journey to discover and celebrate Africa’s future music stars has begun, as the 9th Edition of the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) has opened the application portal for its Diamond Showcase, the award institution’s platform for rising music talents.
The 9th AFRIMA Diamond Showcase is designed to give undiscovered African artists a real chance to present their music to a wider audience and take a major step toward mainstream success.
The Showcase welcomes singers, rappers, DJs, producers, and instrumentalists from all parts of the continent to apply and take their place on one of Africa’s most respected music stages.
Janatte Haddadi, Regional Manager, Northern Africa for AFRIMA, described the Showcase as a rare and valuable opportunity for young creatives who are ready to grow. she explained that AFRIMA is committed to finding, mentoring, and promoting new African music stars who often remain unnoticed in their communities even though they have strong talent.
Haddadi announced that applications will run from November 18 to December 8, 2025, and she encouraged all interested artists to apply early through www.afrima.org/Diamond-Showcase or AFRIMA’s official Instagram page.
To apply, artists must submit a 45-second performance video. The AFRIMA Jury will then review all entries and select the top 15 finalists, known as “The Diamonds,” who will be invited to Lagos for the live Showcase.
Haddadi said, “We want to find the brightest diamonds in the rough across Africa. There are young artists in small towns, big cities, and everywhere in between who are doing amazing things with their music. Many of them have never had the chance to stand before the people who can help shape their careers. The Diamond Showcase is here to bridge that gap.”
The selected finalists will be hosted in Lagos, Nigeria, from January 6 to 7, 2026, with performances each evening from 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM. The Showcase is part of the activities leading up to the 9th AFRIMA Awards.
Those selected will receive an all-expense-paid trip to Lagos, special AFRIMA gifts, mentorship opportunities, and the chance to perform in front of top music executives, major media platforms, and key industry leaders.
Haddadi urged young talents not to waste the opportunity. “If you believe in your gift, this is the time to act,” she said. “Don’t wait. Don’t hold back. Submit your entry. Africa is ready to meet its next big talents, and we are ready to support your first major step.”
Unarguably Africa’s global music awards, the 9th AFRIMA Awards will take place in Lagos, Nigeria, from January 7 to 11, 2026, with events including the Africa Music Business Summit, the Diamond Showcase, the Music Village Concert, the Nominees Party, the Red Carpet, and the grand Awards Night. In partnership with the African Union and Lagos State (Official Host City), the ceremony will be broadcast live to more than 84 countries globally.