PDP Dissolves Ekiti and Ebonyi State Chapters Amid Leadership Crisis

Ilesanmi AdekanbiJune 8, 2023

1 minute read

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), one of the three major contemporary political parties in Nigeria, has announced the dissolution of the Executive Committees of Ekiti and Ebonyi States Chapters of the party with immediate effect.

The decision was made after extensive deliberations and consultations by the NWC, in line with Sections 29(2)(b) and 31(2)(e) of the Constitution of the party (as amended in 2017).

The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Hon. Debo Ologunagba stated this in a statement on Wednesday night.

Ologunagba, however, failed to state the reason for the dissolution but said the development was sequel to extensive deliberations and consultations by the NWC in line the Constitution of the party.

“After extensive deliberations and consultations, the National Working Committee (NWC) hereby approves the dissolution of the Executive Committees of the Ebonyi and Ekiti States Chapters of our great Party with immediate effect.

“The PDP charges all leaders, critical stakeholders and teeming members of our Party in Ebonyi and Ekiti States respectively to remain united and focused on the task ahead”, the statement added.

The PDP urged all leaders, critical stakeholders and teeming members of the party in Ekiti and Ebonyi States to remain united and focused on the task ahead.

The dissolution of the state chapters is seen as a move to assert the authority of the party’s national leadership over the factions led by former governors of the states, Ayo Fayose and Dave Umahi respectively.

Fayose, who is also a member of the G5 group of aggrieved PDP governors, has been at loggerheads with the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and the national chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, over the zoning of the party’s presidential ticket for 2023.

Umahi, on the other hand, defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in November 2020, citing the marginalization of the South-East region by the PDP as his reason.

The PDP has been struggling to maintain its relevance and cohesion since losing power at the federal level in 2015. The party faces internal divisions, defections and legal battles as it prepares for the next general elections in 2023.