By Patrick Titus, Uyo
Political imbroglio within the Akwa Ibom State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with two paralleled State Executive Committees currently emerging, has thrown the party into confusion, even the plans ahead of 2027 general elections have taken momentum.
While one is led by Hon. Aniekan Akpan whose members were democratically elected at PDP 2024 State Congress, with a four-year mandate that runs till 2028, there’s another with a 31-member Caretaker Committee headed by Barr. Igwat Umoren, constituted by PDP National Working Committee (NWC) after sacking the former through a resolution.
It would be recalled that on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, the NWC of PDP, through a press release signed by its Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, announced the dissolution of Hon. Aniekan Akpan led-Exco and subsequent constitution of a 31-member Caretaker Committee with Barrister Igwat Umoren as the Chairman.
The Caretaker Committee, according to the release, was expected to serve for three months, pending new state congress.
Although no reason was stated for the dissolution and appointment of Caretaker Committee but fillers in the state alledged anti-party activities by members of the dissolved Exco, an action they reasoned has undermined the growth of the PDP in the state as well as its standing to win 2027 general elections.
But while the news made waves in the public space, the Party National Executive Committee intercepted and described the actions by the National Working Committee as illegal, null and void ab-initio.
The PDP National Secretary, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu, in a swift reaction, said that the Publicity Secretary, Hon. Ologunagba lacked such powers to implement decisions reached by the NWC of the party.
According to the statement addressed to the sacked Aniekan Akpan (sacked state chairman), Sen. Samuel Anyanwu stated, “My attention has been drawn to the purported press release by the National Publicity Secretary of our party announcing the ç 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 he 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.”
Also reacting to the dissolution of Aniekan Akpan’s Led-Exco is Hon. Uyoata Friday Asam-Eyo, National Ex-Officio (South South Zone) and member of the National Executive Committee (NEC), upholding Akpan-led team as the only valid and legitimate leadership of the party in the state until 2028.
In his statement signed by Hon. Asam-Eyo described the action of the Ambassador Umar Damagum-led factional National Working Committee (NWC) as unconstitutional, illegal, and incapable of standing the test of time.
Asam-Eyo recalled that the Aniekan Akpan-led executive was democratically elected at the 2024 State Congress, and therefore has a four-year mandate that runs till 2028.
He explained that under the PDP constitution, the NWC is accountable to the NEC and only the NEC has the authority to dissolve a State Executive Council and if necessary, appoint a caretaker committee.
Meanwhile, the re-instored PDP State Chairman, Akpan, rising from an emergency meeting of his executive members held yesterday, October 1, 2025 at the Party Secretariat in Uyo, said he remained the authentic chairman of the party in the state.
Akpan urged Party members and the public to disregard the sack notice, insisting that the PDP’s NWC had not properly sat to make such a decision.
One elected State Exco member whose name appeared on the list of the newly announced Caretaker Committee, Barrister Ekpong Edem, rejected the appointment, describing it as “illegal.”
He pledged his loyalty to the Aniekan Akpan leadership, where he currently serves as Senatorial Vice Chairman.
The Hon. Aniekan Akpan led State Executive Committee member has passed a vote of confidence on Aniekan Akpan leadership.
Meanwhile, as at the time of filing this report, the 31-member Caretaker Committee headed by Barr. Igwat Umoren was yet to make any official statement, but members of the once tight umbrella party with a general slogan as “PDP is like religion everywhere in the state”, have been divided into two opposite camps amidst confusion of unknown and uncertainty.
When visited the state Secretariat Complex of PDP at Atan Offot in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital city, the place have been taken over by a detachment of Police and other security agencies with movement of both humans and vehicles restricted access to the premises.
