FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and former Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose have shrugged off their expulsion from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, with their camp describing events at the party’s Ibadan convention as nothing more than “Detty December in November.”
Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the FCT Minister, said the gathering in Ibadan should be viewed as a social party rather than a serious political exercise. He argued that comments made at the convention were largely fuelled by excitement, not sober reflection.
“They went to Ibadan to start their own Detty December in November,” Olayinka said in a statement sent to Vanguard on Saturday. “When people decide to start their Dirty December early, one can’t help but ignore whatever comes out of their mouths.”
According to him, many participants were simply out to enjoy themselves, and after indulging in drinks, were “free to say anything,” suggesting that the expulsion pronouncements should not be taken as weighty political decisions.
The development followed reports earlier on Saturday that the PDP convention in Ibadan had voted to expel Wike, Fayose, and factional national chairman Samuel Anyanwu for alleged anti-party activities. The motion was raised by elder statesman and founding PDP member, Chief Bode George, and seconded by Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed.
Their removal came despite several court orders halting the convention. A fresh injunction issued on Friday directed the Damagum-led national leadership to suspend all activities related to the Ibadan gathering. Senior party figures, including a former Senate President, had urged compliance with the orders to avoid further destabilising the party.
The Damagum camp insisted there was no valid ruling stopping the event and pushed ahead with the convention, where the expulsions were announced.
Reactions continue to trail the decision as the PDP battles legal, political and internal pressures that have overshadowed the build-up to the 2027 elections.
