‎Breaking News: PDP Dissolves Executives Structure, Alleges Loyalty To APC

In a significant strategic move, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has dissolved its executive committee in Akwa Ibom State, just four months after Governor Pastor Umo Eno’s high-profile defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Debo Ologunagba, the PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, emphasized that this decision was imperative due to the apparent control the departing governor had over the party’s local executives, who were perceived to have aligned with the opposition APC.

‎This shake-up follows a dramatic shift in the political landscape, marked by Eno’s exit on June 6, which positioned him as the second PDP governor in the South-South region to defect to the APC within a mere two months, alongside Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State. The loss of Eno is particularly alarming for the PDP, as Akwa Ibom has long been considered a bastion of the party since the return to civilian rule in 1999.

‎In an exclusive interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Ologunagba elaborated on the National Working Committee’s rationale for this decisive action. He revealed that a thorough evaluation indicated a troubling lack of distinction in loyalty between the Akwa Ibom executive members and their affiliations with the APC.

‎“With the governor’s departure, it has become evident to the National Working Committee and party members that there is no difference in the loyalty of the executives in the state compared to their alignment with the All Progressives Congress,” Ologunagba stated. He cited Section 10, Subsection 6 of the PDP’s constitution, which prohibits members from aligning with other political parties or groups to undermine the PDP or its candidates.

‎Describing the situation as an “anathema,” Ologunagba argued that dual party membership is constitutionally untenable. He expressed that the PDP’s assessment indicates that the Akwa Ibom executives are operating under the influence of Governor Eno, now a member of the APC. Ologunagba referenced a recorded statement from the governor, in which Eno claimed he would maintain “control over both parties,” a clear indication of compromised loyalty that warranted the dissolution of the executive committee to safeguard the party’s interests in the state.