The South-South Zonal Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has dissolved the Bayelsa State Working Committee led by Solomon Agwanana and replaced the caretaker committee in Edo State headed by Dr. Tony Aziegbemi.
The decision was made on Tuesday during a meeting at the PDP South-South Zonal Secretariat in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, chaired by National Vice Chairman (South-South), Chief Dan Orbih. The committee cited gross misconduct, poor performance, and failure to manage internal party crises as reasons for the shake-up.
New caretaker committees have been appointed to oversee the affairs of the Bayelsa and Edo chapters for the next three months.
Despite opposition from the party’s National Working Committee, the Orbih-led zonal leadership—which is believed to have the backing of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike—proceeded with the restructuring.
Earlier this month, on April 16, Orbih had inaugurated a new party secretariat for the Edo PDP and warned Aziegbemi’s committee to stop presenting themselves as the state’s leadership.
In Bayelsa, Agwanana was replaced by George Turnah, a known ally of Wike and organiser of a planned rally in support of President Bola Tinubu and Wike. In Edo, Nosa Ogieva took over as chairman, with Chief Sunny Okomayin as deputy chairman and Hillary Otsu as secretary.
Zonal Publicity Secretary Etim Isong stated that the changes were made to stabilize the party and prepare for upcoming elections, especially following what he described as a “woeful outing” in the last Edo governorship election.
According to the statement, the committee acted under specific provisions of the PDP constitution (as amended in 2017), including Articles 10, 26, 27, 58, and 59, which empower it to dissolve and restructure state organs where necessary.
New Bayelsa Caretaker Committee Members:
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Chairman: George Turnah
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Deputy Chairman: Tony Gabriel
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Secretary: Ebilade Ekerefe
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Vice Chairmen: Didi Werilaghebofa (Central), Andy Majors (East), Evelyn Bolouebi Odi (West)
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Treasurer: Biobelemoye Ogoniwari
New Edo Caretaker Committee Members:
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Chairman: Nosa Ogieva
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Deputy Chairman: Sunny Okomayin
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Secretary: Hillary Otsu
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Vice Chairmen: Ehisota Oriakhi (Central), Richard Ehimigbai (North)
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Treasurer: Benjamin Ehinlebodiaye