The Bayelsa State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is embroiled in a deepening leadership crisis, as conflicting claims over the dissolution and reconstitution of its State Working Committee spark political tension ahead of the 2027 elections.
In a strong rebuttal issued Wednesday, the PDP’s Bayelsa State Publicity Secretary, Ebiye Ogoli, categorically denied reports suggesting that the current State Working Committee, led by Solomon Agwana, had been dissolved and replaced with a caretaker committee. Ogoli dismissed the claims as not only false and misleading, but also constitutionally baseless.
At the heart of the controversy is a decision by a factional South-South Zonal Working Committee of the party, led by Chief Dan Orbih, which announced the dissolution of both the Bayelsa and Edo PDP state executives at a meeting held in Port Harcourt.
The Orbih-led faction cited allegations of gross misconduct and poor leadership performance as grounds for its sweeping action. It also announced the appointment of George Turnah—a known ally of Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike—as chairman of a new caretaker committee in Bayelsa.
Turnah, accepting the role in a statement through his media aide, Kelvin Loveday-Egbo, pledged far-reaching reforms aimed at revitalizing the party’s structure, particularly at the grassroots level. He vowed to relocate the PDP’s operational base from the Super Lodge in Yenagoa’s Government House to a more accessible and people-oriented secretariat. His promise of transparency, accountability, and an open-door policy struck a reformist tone, as he outlined his vision to secure victory for the PDP in the 2027 general elections.
However, Ogoli emphasized that the authority of the Orbih-led zonal executive was questionable. According to him, the tenure of the zonal leadership expired on March 13, 2025, and any decisions made thereafter—including the dissolution announcement—lack legal grounding.
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He noted that the PDP’s National Working Committee (NWC) had already stepped in to fill the void by appointing a legitimate caretaker committee headed by Chief Emmanuel Ogidi on the same date the zonal exco’s tenure lapsed.
Ogoli further declared the controversial zonal congress held in Calabar, which allegedly produced Chief Dan Orbih as zonal leader, “unconstitutional and void.” He reiterated that no zonal body, whether legitimate or not, has the constitutional mandate to dissolve a duly constituted state working committee.
Legal complexities also shadow George Turnah’s appointment. Ogoli pointed out that the Bayelsa State High Court has yet to deliver a ruling on Turnah’s previous suspension from the party—meaning his current standing remains unresolved.
Meanwhile, the Agwana-led PDP leadership in Bayelsa has issued a stern warning against what it termed “external interference,” accusing political actors aligned with outside interests of plotting to destabilize the party. The state chapter reaffirmed its allegiance to Governor Douye Diri, urging members to stand united behind his developmental vision and resist distractions from opposition elements.
With both factions claiming legitimacy and a court decision still pending, the PDP in Bayelsa faces a turbulent path. The internal conflict raises serious concerns about the party’s readiness and cohesion as it eyes a return to power in the 2027 elections. As the battle for control continues, one thing is clear: the struggle for the soul of Bayelsa PDP is far from over.
