Port Harcourt, April 22, 2025 — The South-South Zonal Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday announced the dissolution of the Bayelsa State Working Committee led by Solomon Agwanana and replaced the caretaker leadership of the Edo State chapter previously headed by Dr. Tony Aziegbemi.

The decision, made during a high-level meeting at the party’s zonal secretariat in Port Harcourt, was driven by allegations of gross misconduct, poor leadership performance, and the failure to resolve internal party crises in both states.

National Vice Chairman (South-South), Chief Dan Orbih, who presided over the meeting, unveiled new caretaker committees to take charge of the party’s affairs in Bayelsa and Edo for an initial period of three months.

The move, which comes amid rising internal tensions and factional realignments within the party, is widely perceived as being orchestrated by allies of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike—despite clear resistance from the PDP’s National Working Committee (NWC).

In Bayelsa, George Turnah—an influential political figure and close associate of Wike—has been appointed chairman of the new caretaker committee. Turnah is known to be organizing a rally in honor of President Bola Tinubu and Wike, adding to speculation that the shake-up is politically motivated.

Turnah’s team includes Tony Gabriel as deputy chairman, Ebilade Ekerefe as secretary, and regional vice chairmen Didi Werilaghebofa (Central), Andy Majors (East), and Evelyn Bolouebi Odi (West). Biobelemoye Ogoniwari was named treasurer.

In Edo State, Nosa Ogieva has replaced Dr. Aziegbemi as chairman of the new caretaker committee, with Chief Sunny Okomayin as deputy chairman and Hillary Otsu as secretary. Other key appointments include Ehisota Oriakhi (vice chairman, Central), Richard Ehimigbai (vice chairman, North), and Benjamin Ehinlebodiaye (treasurer).

Zonal Publicity Secretary Etim Isong stated that the leadership overhaul was necessary to “stabilise and reposition the party,” especially after what the committee described as a “woeful outing” in the recent Edo governorship election.

“The decision to set up caretaker committees for both states follows the dissolution of the Bayelsa State Working Committee and the Edo State Caretaker Committee due to various acts of gross misconduct by the dissolved executives—acts that clearly breached the party’s constitution,” the statement said.

The statement also cited provisions of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017), including Articles 10, 26, 27, 58, and 59, as legal backing for the action.

The leadership shake-up is the latest in a series of strategic moves reshaping the PDP’s political landscape in the South-South, as internal power struggles intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Observers say the developments underscore growing rifts within the party, particularly between pro-Wike factions and the national leadership, raising questions about unity and electoral preparedness in the region.