The South-south Zonal Working Committee (ZWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has sacked the Solomon Agwanana-led Bayelsa State Working Committee (SWC).
The ZWC has, however, appointed George Turnah, the zonal Secretary, as the caretaker committee chairman to manage the party’s operations in Bayelsa.
This decision was made during a meeting held at the PDP Zonal Secretary’s office in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Tuesday.
The sacked Exco has the backing of the state governor, Douye Diri.
A statement signed by the Zonal Publicity Secretary, Prince Etim Isong, shortly after the gathering, said that the Solomon Agwanana SWC was dissolved for gross misconduct and inability to contain the internal crisis rocking the party in Bayelsa.
The ZWC also replaced Mr Tony Aziegbemi, the erstwhile caretaker chairman of Edo State PDP with Nosa Ogieva.
Isong said that the appointments of the caretaker committee for Bayelsa and Edo States were in the best interest of the party.
He said: ‘’The decision to set up Caretaker Committees for both States follows the dissolution of the State Working Committee of Bayelsa State and the Caretaker Committee in Edo State on account of various acts of gross misconduct by the dissolved Executives which are in clear breach of the party’s constitution, the poor performance and woeful outing by the party in Edo State at the last governorship elections, and the poor handling of internal crisis rocking the party in both states.
‘’The Zonal Working Committee took these decisions in the best interest of the Party after a careful review of the activities of the party in both states in line with the Constitution of the Party as amended in 2017, particularly Articles 10(1),(f),(g),(k), and (4) as well as Articles 26(2),(a), 27(2)(a&b), 58(1),(a),(c),(i),(j), and 59(1)(f)’’ he said.
Isong expressed optimism that the bold move by the ZWC would strengthen the party’s foundation and ensure effective leadership in Bayelsa and Edo states.
Those appointed into the caretaker committee in Bayelsa are Tony Gabriel, Deputy Chairman; former Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Spokesman, Ebilade Ekerefe, Secretary, and Didi Ebiekake Werilaghebofa, Vice-Chairman- Central.
Others are Andy Majors, Vice-Chairman, East; Evelyn Bolouebi Odi, Vice-Chairman, West and Biobelemoye Ogoniwari, Treasurer.
In Edo State, the caretaker committee, the deputy-Chairman is Chief Sunny Okomayin, while Hilary Otsu is the Secretary, and Nose Iseleomon,.Vice-Chairman South.
Others are Ehisota Oriakhi as Vice-Chairman Central, Richard Ehimigbai as Vice-Chairman North, and Benjamin Ehinlebodiaye as Treasurer.
