The Akwa Ibom State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the party’s National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, have rejected the dissolution of the state working committee announced on Wednesday by the National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba.
Ologunagba, in a statement, had disclosed that the National Working Committee (NWC) resolved to dissolve the state executive led by Elder Aniekan Akpan. He further announced the appointment of a 31-member caretaker committee chaired by Igwat Umoren to run the party’s affairs for three months pending new congresses.
In a swift rebuttal, Senator Anyanwu described the announcement as “null and void.” In a statement issued in Uyo on Thursday, the PDP National Secretary maintained that no formal meeting of the NWC was held to take such a decision.
“It is not within the official duties of the National Publicity Secretary to implement decisions of the NWC. The purported press release is of no effect, and the Akwa Ibom State Working Committee remains undissolved,” Anyanwu stated, urging party officials in the state to continue with their duties in line with the party’s constitution.
Reacting to the development, Akwa Ibom PDP Chairman, Elder Aniekan Akpan, convened an emergency meeting of the state executive committee in Uyo, after which he declared himself the authentic chairman. He called on party members and the public to disregard the dissolution notice, insisting due process was not followed.
Meanwhile, one of the elected state exco members named in the newly constituted caretaker committee, Ekpong Edem, also rejected his inclusion. Edem, who currently serves as Senatorial Vice Chairman under the Akpan-led executive, described the new committee as “illegal” and pledged loyalty to the incumbent leadership.
The state executive committee subsequently passed a vote of confidence in Akpan, further entrenching divisions within the party over the legitimacy of the dissolution.
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