ABUJA, Nigeria — The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has dissolved its executives in Akwa Ibom State, citing concerns that the leadership had fallen under the influence of Governor Umo Eno, who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) earlier this year.
On Tuesday, September 30, 2025, the PDP national leadership announced the decision and appointed a caretaker committee chaired by Igwa Umoren.
Borono Bassey, a former publicity secretary of the party in Akwa Ibom, was named secretary of the committee, tasked with overseeing administrative functions and internal communication.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, October 2, 2025, Debo Ologunagba, PDP’s national publicity secretary, said the move was necessary to safeguard party interests and realign structures with national directives.
“In Akwa Ibom State, the governor has left. At both the national working committee and party level, there seems to be no distinction between the state executives and their alignment with the All Progressives Congress, APC,” Ologunagba said.
He pointed to Section 10, sub-section 6 of the PDP constitution, which prohibits members from aligning with other parties to undermine the organisation.
“Belonging to two parties is an anathema,” he noted.
Ologunagba alleged that the dissolved executives were being controlled by Governor Eno, who openly declared on tape that he intended to “oversee both parties.”
“This is unacceptable and undermines the PDP,” he said, adding that the party could not allow divided loyalties to weaken its position in the state.
The PDP has dominated politics in Akwa Ibom for more than two decades. However, its grip weakened in June after Eno’s defection to the APC, making him the second PDP governor in the south-south to switch allegiance within two months, following Delta State’s Sheriff Oborevwori.
Party officials said the dissolution of the state executives was aimed at restoring order, reasserting control, and preventing further erosion of its structures in Akwa Ibom.
