The National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Debo Ologunagba, has defended the party’s decision to dissolve its executive committee in Akwa Ibom State, citing alleged alignment with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Akwa Ibom, a PDP stronghold since the return of democratic rule in 1999, saw a major political shift when Governor Umo Eno defected to the APC on June 6. His defection made him the second PDP governor in the South-South region to join the APC in under two months, following Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State.
Four months after Eno’s defection, the PDP dissolved its state executive committee in Akwa Ibom. Explaining the rationale, Ologunagba said the party observed that the executives were no longer acting independently and were under the influence of the governor.
“In Akwa Ibom State, the governor has left. We have noticed at the National Working Committee and party level that there seems to be no distinction between the state executives and the APC,” Ologunagba said.
He cited Section 10, Subsection 6 of the PDP Constitution, which prohibits members from aligning with other parties in a manner that undermines the PDP or its elected governments.
“It is an anathema that you will belong to two parties at the same time,” he added.
Ologunagba further alleged that Governor Eno openly claimed he would control both parties in the state. “The governor said on tape that he will be in charge of the two parties,” he noted, emphasizing the need for the party to safeguard its internal integrity.
