ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Okechukwu Osohua, has dismissed the party’s Ibadan convention as nothing more than a friendly gathering, describing it as a “Christmas Carol” rather than a legitimate convention.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Tuesday, Osohua argued that the event, held at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Adamasingba, Ibadan, lacked legal backing and should not be recognised as a formal convention.
“As far as I’m concerned, it was just a gathering of friends,” he said.
“I can even call it a Christmas Carol because it was not known to law; there was no convention.”
The PDP conducted the event between November 15 and 16, during which the faction backed by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde expelled several party figures including Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike; former Ekiti State governor, Ayo Fayose; and former National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu—citing anti-party activities.
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The party subsequently issued certificates of expulsion to the affected members, further deepening internal divisions.
But Osohua insisted the expulsions were motivated by personal interests. He questioned the legality of issuing an expulsion certificate, calling it an unfamiliar and baseless practice.
“A certificate of expulsion is unknown to me, because that’s the first time I’m hearing it,” he said.
“Those who are comfortable saying they issued a certificate of expulsion where did they derive it from? In which law?”
He continued, “Before you take any action, there must be a status or law guiding and providing for it. When somebody was entering this political party, did you issue him a certificate of entrance that would now warrant such an expulsion certificate? I have not heard it.
“I have been in politics for a while. I have not heard that you expel somebody and then give him a certificate of expulsion.”