Rift In PDP Over Akwa Ibom Executive Dissolution

The rift within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national leadership widened on Wednesday as the national secretary of the party, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, rejected the dissolution of the party executive in Akwa Ibom State.

The national secretary said the dissolution of the Akwa Ibom leadership as announced by the national publicity secretary, Hon Debo Ologunagba, barely 24 hours ago, was null and void.

Anyanwu stated this in a letter to the Akwa Ibom State chairman, dated October 1, asking him to continue in his duties.

Ologunagba, had in a statement on Tuesday, announced the dissolution of the Akwa Ibom executive and constitution of a caretaker committee led by Igwat Umoren as chairman.

Before the Akwa Ibom episode, Anyanwu had also clashed with the national chairman of PDP, Illiya Damagum over the conduct of congresses in Cross River, Plateau and Kebbi States.

The clash which emerged in conflicting letters to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has Damagum calling for a postponement of the congresses in the aforementioned states, while Anyanwu in a separate letter insisted the congresses must proceed.

The rift within the party leadership comes ahead of the party’s national convention holding in Ibadan, Oyo State in November this year.

Anyanwu, in his letter to the Akwa Ibom State PDP chairman, Aniekan Akpan said “My attention has been drawn to the purported press release by the National Publicity Secretary of our party, announcing the dissolution of the State Working Committee of Akwa Ibom State.

“For purposes of clarity, that press release should be discountenanced, because there was no formal sitting of the National Working Committee in which such decision was taken.

“It is not in the official position and duties of the National Publicity Secretary to take actions relating to the implementation of the decisions of the National Working Committee of our great party, as a result, the purported press release is null and void and of no effect. The State Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party Akwa Ibom State stands undissolved.

“Please consider this letter as the rightful authority for you to continue in your duties as provided in the PDP Constitution 2017 as Amended,” it read.