The ongoing turmoil within the South-South region of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is escalating daily, as the Bayelsa State Executive Working Committee, under the leadership of Solomon Agwanana, has rejected the purported dismissal by the zonal committee led by Dan Orbih.
In a statement issued by the party’s Publicity Secretary in the state, Ebiye Agu Ogoli, it was asserted that the Dan Orbih-led zonal executive lacks the authority to dissolve the state executives, given that their tenure expired on March 13, 2025. On April 22, 2025, the South-South Zonal Working Committee announced the dissolution of the party’s working committees in Edo and Bayelsa states, appointing caretaker committees to manage the party’s operations in both states for a period of three months.
This decision, which the zonal committee stated would take effect immediately, was revealed following a meeting chaired by Dan Orbih, the National Vice-Chairman of the party. The statement, signed by Zonal Publicity Secretary Prince Etim Isong, indicated that the establishment of caretaker committees was a response to the dissolution of the State Working Committee in Bayelsa and the Caretaker Committee in Edo, citing various acts of gross misconduct that were deemed to violate the party’s Constitution. In response, Ogoli, the state Publicity Secretary, characterized the situation as intentionally mischievous and absurd, asserting that the state chapter of the party would address the concerns raised by what he referred to as misguided individuals.
He remarked, ‘The Bayelsa State Chapter of the PDP has been alerted to a baseless narrative circulating that the State Working Committee led by Solomon Agwana has been dissolved and replaced by a caretaker committee established by the illegitimate factional Zonal Executive Committee under Dan Orbih.’
Initially, the term of the previous Zonal Executive Committee of the PDP concluded on March 13, 2025. To prevent any leadership void, a caretaker committee was established by the National Working Committee (NWC) on the same date, led by the esteemed Emmanuel Ogidi, to manage the party’s operations until an Elective South-South Zonal Congress can be convened.
