The South-South Zonal Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday announced a major shake-up in its Bayelsa and Edo State chapters, dissolving the Bayelsa State Working Committee led by Solomon Agwanana and replacing the Edo State Caretaker Committee formerly headed by Dr. Tony Aziegbemi.
The decisions were reached following a crucial meeting held at the PDP South-South Zonal Secretariat in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The meeting was chaired by Chief Dan Orbih, the National Vice Chairman (South-South) of the party, and came on the heels of mounting dissatisfaction over what was described as gross misconduct, administrative lapses, and a failure to effectively manage internal party crises by the leadership in both states.
Chief Orbih, who has been a vocal figure within the zonal structure and is widely perceived to be aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, spearheaded the restructuring process. The committee�s actions are seen by many political observers as a decisive, though controversial, attempt to reassert control over party machinery in the zone, particularly as the party braces for future electoral contests.
According to a statement released by the Zonal Publicity Secretary, Etim Isong, the dissolution of the two committees and the constitution of new caretaker teams was aimed at stabilizing and repositioning the party in both Bayelsa and Edo States, where internal disarray and poor electoral performances have significantly weakened the party�s standing.
�The decision to set up caretaker committees for Bayelsa and Edo followed the dissolution of the existing leadership structures in both states, a move necessitated by multiple instances of gross misconduct and clear breaches of the PDP constitution,� the statement said. It further highlighted the party�s disappointing performance in the recent Edo governorship election and the inability of the dissolved leaderships to effectively handle internal disputes as key reasons for the overhaul.
The statement noted that the Zonal Committee invoked several provisions of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017), specifically citing Articles 10(1)(f)(g)(k), 10(4), 26(2)(a), 27(2)(a&b), 58(1)(a)(c)(i)(j), and 59(1)(f), to justify the dissolution and reconstitution of the party organs in both states.
In Bayelsa, Solomon Agwanana was replaced by George Turnah, a close ally of Wike and the principal organiser of an upcoming rally in support of President Bola Tinubu and the FCT Minister. Turnah will now serve as the chairman of the new caretaker committee. Other members of the Bayelsa caretaker team include Tony Gabriel as deputy chairman, Ebilade Ekerefe�former spokesman of the Ijaw Youth Council�as secretary, Didi Werilaghebofa as vice chairman (Central), Andy Majors as vice chairman (East), Evelyn Bolouebi Odi as vice chairman (West), and Biobelemoye Ogoniwari as treasurer.
In Edo State, the Orbih-led zonal committee replaced Dr. Aziegbemi with Nosa Ogieva as the new caretaker chairman. He will be supported by Chief Sunny Okomayin, who was named deputy chairman, and Hillary Otsu, appointed as secretary. Additional members of the Edo committee include Ehisota Oriakhi as vice chairman (Central), Richard Ehimigbai as vice chairman (North), and Benjamin Ehinlebodiaye as treasurer.
The shake-up comes just days after Orbih donated a newly commissioned party secretariat to the Edo State chapter on April 16, 2025. During the event, he issued a stern warning to the Aziegbemi-led group, cautioning them to stop presenting themselves as the legitimate leaders of the state chapter.
While the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP has not endorsed the move, and reportedly expressed strong reservations about the zonal committee�s unilateral actions, the Orbih-led leadership has forged ahead, insisting that the changes are necessary to restore order and credibility to the party in the region.
Political analysts suggest the developments may be part of a broader realignment of forces within the PDP, particularly as tensions simmer between different factions jostling for control in the run-up to national and state elections.
With the new caretaker committees mandated to oversee the affairs of the Bayelsa and Edo State chapters for the next three months, all eyes will be on the evolving dynamics within the PDP�s South-South zone, a region traditionally seen as one of the party�s strongholds
