By Peter Omopo
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has explained that its decision to dissolve the party’s state executive committee in Akwa Ibom was taken to safeguard its interests and ensure compliance with national directives.
Speaking on Politics Today on Channels Television on Thursday, the PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, alleged that the dissolved executives had compromised their independence and were operating under the influence of Governor Umo Eno, who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in June.
“In Akwa Ibom State, the governor has left. At both the national working committee and party level, there seems to be no distinction between the state executives and their alignment with the All Progressives Congress,” Ologunagba said.
He cited Section 10 (6) of the PDP constitution, which forbids members from associating with other parties in a manner that undermines the organisation. He described Eno’s declaration that he would “oversee both parties” as unacceptable and detrimental to the PDP’s structure.
On Tuesday, the PDP formally announced the dissolution of its Akwa Ibom State chapter and inaugurated a caretaker committee led by Igwa Umoren, with Borono Bassey, a former state publicity secretary, serving as secretary.
The move follows months of political upheaval in the state after Eno’s defection to the APC, ending the PDP’s long-standing dominance in Akwa Ibom. His departure made him the second South-South governor to abandon the PDP in recent months, after Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State.
Ologunagba said the restructuring was necessary to “restore order, reassert control, and prevent further erosion” of the party’s presence in the state.
