The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has described as null and void, the dissolution of Akwa Ibom State Working Committee of the party led by Hon. Aniekan Akpan.
Recall that the PDP National Working Committee, NWC, in a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba on Wednesday announced the dissolution of Akwa Ibom Exco and subsequent constitution of a 31-member Caretaker Committee headed by Barrister Igwat Umoren.
The committee was expected to serve for three months, pending new state congresses.
However, the National Secretary of the PDP, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu in a swift reaction, countered the statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary
He noted that the Publicity Secretary lacked such powers to implement decisions reached by the NWC of the party.
According to the statement addressed to the embattled state chairman, “my attention has been drawn to the purported press release by the National Publicity Secretary of our party announcing dissolution of the state working committee of Akwa Ibom State.
“For purposes of clarity, that press release should be discountenanced because there was no formal sitting of the National working Committee in which such decision was taken.
“It is not in the official capacity and duties of the National Publicity Secretary to take actions relating to the implementation of the decisions of the National Working Committee of our great party; as a result, the purported press release is null and void and of no effect. The state working committee of the PDP Akwa Ibom state stands undissolved.
“Please consider this letter as the rightful authority for you to continue in your duties as provided in the PDP constitution 2017 as amended.”
Meanwhile, the embattled PDP Chairman, Akpan, rising from an emergency meeting of his Executive members held at the party secretariat, said he remained the authentic chairman of the party in the state.
Addressing the press afterwards, Akpan urged party members and the public to disregard the sack notice, insisting that the PDP NWC had not properly sat to make such a decision.
An elected State Exco member whose name appeared on the list of the newly announced Caretaker Committee, Barrister Ekpong Edem, also rejected the appointment, describing it as “illegal.”
He pledged his loyalty to the Aniekan Akpan leadership where he currently serves as Senatorial Vice Chairman.
