Abdul Wahid
- Medlock Vale Campaigner for 2027
- Former Councillor for Hollinwood (2023–2026)
- Founding member of the Oldham Group
Highlights
- Founding member and Deputy Leader of the Oldham Group, formed in December 2023.
- Moved a motion to hold housing associations to account on damp and mould, which Council passed as amended (November 2023).
- Moved the amendment calling for a national statutory inquiry into child sexual exploitation; councillors voted unanimously for a statutory public inquiry (February 2025).
- Seconded Cllr Ghafoor’s motions on longer cemetery opening hours, which led to a pilot of extended hours (July 2024), and on a study of free bulky waste collections to tackle fly-tipping (April 2025).
See the full record with sources
About
Abdul Wahid is a former Oldham councillor and a founding member of the Oldham Group. He was elected for Hollinwood in May 2023 and served on Oldham Council until May 2026, including as the Oldham Group’s Deputy Leader. The Oldham Group says his work as a Hollinwood councillor crossed over into neighbouring Medlock Vale, which is why he is now the Group’s Medlock Vale Campaigner for 2027, backed by Councillor Kamran Ghafoor, Leader of the Oldham Group.
The Oldham Group says Abdul is the only real alternative in Medlock Vale: someone with a record of standing up for residents in the council chamber, and who will keep doing so all year round.
Abdul’s record
29 entries from 4 May 2023 – 20 May 2026, drawn from Oldham Council minutes, election results, the Electoral Commission register and local news reports. Each one links to its source. The tag shows which group Abdul belonged to at the time.
- 2026
Tribute at Annual Council
At Annual Council, Cllr Aisha Kouser paid tribute to his work during his time on the Council.
Source: Council minutes (Oldham Council) (opens in a new tab)
Stood again in Hollinwood for the Oldham Group
Stood for re-election in Hollinwood as the Oldham Group candidate and put up a strong fight, winning 772 votes.
Source: Local election results, 7 May 2026 (Oldham Council) (opens in a new tab)
Moved three amendments on online safety, fly-tipping and fireworks
Moved amendments asking for a scrutiny report on online safety and support for parents and carers; quarterly ward-by-ward fly-tipping enforcement figures and a 24-hour removal standard for dangerous fly-tips; and a yearly multi-agency fireworks action plan with the police and fire service.
Source: Council minutes (Oldham Council) (opens in a new tab)
- 2025
Questioned the costs and risks of Prince’s Gate
Asked the Leader for the total project costs, the risks and the contingency plan for the Prince’s Gate scheme of 331 new homes, including 75 social homes. The Leader undertook to give him a full written answer.
Source: Council minutes (Oldham Council) (opens in a new tab)
Joint description with the Workers Party registered
The Electoral Commission authorised the description ‘Workers Party - Oldham Group (Joint Description with Workers Party of Britain)’ for The Oldham Group Party, whose register lists Abdul Wahid as Nominating Officer and Campaigns Officer.
Helped pass free school travel for children in temporary accommodation
Seconded Amendment 1, moved by Cllr Ghafoor, to the Oldham Group motion on free school travel for children living in temporary accommodation. It was carried and became the motion, sending the proposal to Cabinet for an options report.
Source: Council minutes (Oldham Council) (opens in a new tab)
The Oldham Group joins forces with the Workers Party
The Manchester Evening News reported that the Oldham Group had agreed a partnership with George Galloway’s Workers Party of Britain, with two joint ‘Oldham Group and Workers Party’ candidates in Werneth and Chadderton South at the May 2026 elections.
Source: Manchester Evening News, 25 Sep 2025 (opens in a new tab)
Seconded the amendment on Palestine and the famine in Gaza
Seconded the Oldham Group amendment, moved by Cllr Ghafoor, to the motion ‘Recognising Palestine and the famine in Gaza’.
Source: Council minutes (Oldham Council) (opens in a new tab)
Founding officer of The Oldham Group Party
The Oldham Group Party was registered with the Electoral Commission, with Abdul Wahid listed as its Nominating Officer and Campaigns Officer.
Moved a motion to invest in Coldhurst sports and open space
Moved ‘Investing in Coldhurst’, seconded by Cllr Montaz Ali Azad, to resurface the West End Street pitch and bring Merton Fields back into open community use. It was carried as amended, with officers to report to scrutiny on the pitch and funding options.
Source: Council minutes (Oldham Council) (opens in a new tab)
Asked the Leader to acknowledge genocide in Gaza
In questions to the Leader of the Council, he asked her to acknowledge that the actions of Israeli forces in Gaza amount to genocide and to lobby the UK Government to do the same, and to press for British citizens who took part to be prosecuted under international law. The Leader expressed her sorrow for the suffering of Palestinians but said she would not allow the Council to politicise the issue.
Source: Council minutes (Oldham Council) (opens in a new tab)
Watch the meeting (full recording, opens YouTube in a new tab)
Deputy Group Leader and Shadow Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods
Annual Council noted the Oldham Group Shadow Cabinet, with Abdul Wahid as Deputy Group Leader and Shadow Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods. He also seconded the amendment nominating Cllr Ghafoor as Leader of the Council, which was lost by 28 votes to 31.
Source: Council minutes (Oldham Council) (opens in a new tab)
Seconded the motion on fly-tipping and free bulky waste
Seconded Cllr Ghafoor’s motion asking for a cost-benefit study of a free three-item bulky waste collection, noting 5,672 fly-tipping incidents in a year costing over £600,000. It was lost.
Source: Council minutes (Oldham Council) (opens in a new tab)
Moved the Oldham Group’s budget amendment
At Budget Council, moved the Oldham Group’s alternative budget amendment, seconded by Cllr Shoab Akhtar. It was lost.
Source: Council minutes (Oldham Council) (opens in a new tab)
“Justice must prevail”
Reporting the unanimous vote for a statutory inquiry, the BBC said he told Council that justice “must prevail” and that “even one predator in our community is one too many”. He said: “That’s why we will do what we must here and within our communities to root out these criminals, who have tarnished the good name of British Pakistani Muslims across the country.” He added: “But let me be absolutely clear: this is not just about one community.”
Moved the amendment calling for a national statutory inquiry
At an extraordinary meeting on child sexual exploitation, moved the Oldham Group amendment, seconded by Cllr Ghafoor, calling for a national statutory inquiry and statutory powers for Oldham’s own inquiry. Parts of it were merged into a composite amendment, which he seconded.
Source: Council minutes (Oldham Council) (opens in a new tab)
- 2024
Seconded the call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza
Seconded Cllr Naveed Chowhan’s motion calling for an immediate ceasefire, protection of civilians and safe access for humanitarian aid. It was carried as amended by 40 votes to 5.
Source: Council minutes (Oldham Council) (opens in a new tab)
Moved an amendment on the Chief Executive’s working arrangements
Moved the Oldham Group amendment, seconded by Cllr Naveed Chowhan, asking for reports to Full Council on the risks and legal position of the Chief Executive’s arrangements and for open recruitment of a permanent Chief Executive. It was lost.
Source: Council minutes (Oldham Council) (opens in a new tab)
Backed a public inquiry into child sexual exploitation
Spoke in support of the motion asking the Home Secretary for a Home Office-led public inquiry into child sexual exploitation in Oldham. It was carried unanimously.
Source: Council minutes (Oldham Council) (opens in a new tab)
Seconded the motion to extend burial times
Seconded Cllr Ghafoor’s motion to keep Oldham’s cemeteries open until 10pm, seven days a week, with one fixed burial fee. Council agreed a pilot of extended cemetery hours and to keep offering same-day burials seven days a week.
Source: Council minutes (Oldham Council) (opens in a new tab)
Working to reopen the Limeside Park community centre
Worked with Onward Homes on a £100,000 project to reopen the community centre in Limeside Park as a focal point for residents, with activities for young people, groups for older residents and a community café. “I’m hoping it will bring a bit of community back to Hollinwood,” he said.
Seconded the motion on the conflict in Gaza
Seconded ‘The Conflict in Gaza’, moved by Cllr Ghafoor, asking Oldham to add its voice to calls for an immediate ceasefire and unhindered humanitarian aid. Council passed it as amended. He also seconded the Oldham Group’s amendment calling for a lasting peace in Palestine and Israel.
Source: Council minutes (Oldham Council) (opens in a new tab)
Watch the meeting (full recording, opens YouTube in a new tab)
Left the Conservative Party
The Oldham Times reported that he had resigned from the Conservative Party, along with Cllr Muhammad Irfan, and would carry on serving Hollinwood as an independent councillor. He said: “They tried to censor us and stop us from speaking about the Palestinian people, and my conscience can’t take being part of a party that supports the genocide of the Palestine people.”
- 2023
Founding member and Deputy Leader of the Oldham Group
Shortly after their suspension by the Conservatives, Abdul, Kamran Ghafoor and Muhammad Irfan formed the Oldham Group. Full Council was formally told on 13 December 2023 that the three councillors would be known as the Oldham Group, with Cllr Ghafoor as Leader and Cllr Wahid as Deputy Leader.
Source: Council minutes (Oldham Council) (opens in a new tab)
Watch the meeting (full recording, opens YouTube in a new tab)
Suspended by the Conservatives after a Gaza ceasefire march
The BBC reported that the Conservative Party had suspended him and fellow Hollinwood councillors Kamran Ghafoor and Muhammad Irfan after they joined the pro-Palestine march in London on 11 November, Armistice Day, where thousands called for a ceasefire in Gaza. The party said it was investigating.
Moved a motion to hold housing associations to account on damp and mould
Moved the motion, seconded by Cllr Pam Byrne. Council passed it as amended: the Chief Executive was asked to write to every housing association in the borough reminding them of their duty to inspect homes at risk of damp and mould and make timely repairs, with enforcement action if they fail.
Source: Council minutes (Oldham Council) (opens in a new tab)
Backed police action on knife crime in Hollinwood
Supported police measures in the ward, saying: “Knife crime is a serious issue that needs to be addressed urgently by the Police and the community – it destroys lives.”
Shadow Cabinet roles for children, housing and licensing
At Annual Council he was listed in his group’s Shadow Cabinet as Shadow Cabinet Member for Children and Young People and Shadow Cabinet Member for Housing and Licensing.
Source: Council minutes (Oldham Council) (opens in a new tab)
Elected Councillor for Hollinwood
Won one of the three Hollinwood seats in Oldham’s all-out council election with 972 votes, alongside Kamran Ghafoor and Muhammad Irfan.
Source: Election results, Hollinwood (Oldham Council) (opens in a new tab)