In what amounts to medicine after death, three leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) known as New PDP or nPDP were this evening recommended for expulsion a day after the faction announced its merger with the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC). In reporting the merger deal sealed late yesterday morning in Abuja, the Nigerian capital, News Express had explained that the merger deal was fast-tracked so as to pre-empt the expulsion of the rebel chiefs.

That was exactly what happened as the PDP National Disciplinary Committee headed by Dr Umaru Dikko recommended the expulsion of Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Alhaji Abubakar Baraje and Dr. Sam Sam Jaja for anti-party activities.

Announcing the decision, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, Deputy Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee, said the case of Ambassador Ibrahim Kazaure, who was also suspended alongside the trio, had been deferred for one month. Babatope said Kazaure has been asked to appear before the committee on 10 December to give more explanations on the charges against him. The committee therefore extended his suspension by 30 days.

The quartet had been invited to appear before the committee today but declined.

•Photo shows Baraje, Oyinlola, Jaja and Kazaure.