Wike’s loyalist, Turnah appointed PDP chairman in Bayelsa

George Turnah, a known political ally of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, has been appointed chairman of the newly constituted caretaker committee to oversee the affairs of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State.

The appointment was announced in a statement issued on Tuesday by the PDP South-South Zonal Working Committee.

According to the zonal spokesperson, Prince Isong, the move follows the dissolution of the Bayelsa State Working Committee due to “various acts of gross misconduct” committed by the former executives.

The party also unveiled a new caretaker committee for Edo State, as part of its wider restructuring within the South-South region.

READ ALSO: Bayelsa : Wike’s supporters postpone rally to avoid clash with Diri, Tambuwal’s groups

“The Zonal Working Committee took these decisions in the best interest of the Party after a careful review of the activities of the Party in both States in line with the Constitution of the Party as amended in 2017, particularly Articles 10(1), (f), (g), (k), and (4) as well as Articles 26(2), (a), 27(2) (a and b), 58(1), (a), (c), (i), (j), and 59(1) (f).

“The Zonal Working Committee hopes that this bold move will strengthen the Party’s foundation and ensure effective leadership in both Bayelsa and Edo States,” Mr Isong said.

Mr Turnah, the new chairperson of the PDP caretaker committee in Bayelsa, is the South-South zonal secretary of the party.

A former executive assistant on public affairs to Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State, Mr Turnah fell out with Mr Diri and switched political loyalty to Mr Wike. He is the convener of the New Associates, Bayelsa Chapter, a platform he planned the postponed mega rally in Bayelsa for the FCT minister.

Mr Turnah’s appointment further confirms Mr Wike’s influence within the PDP.

Before now, Governor Diri said Mr Turnah was not a member of the PDP in Bayelsa. The governor was also against the Bayelsa rally for Mr Wike.

“As you are aware, we have threats from our sister state. The political crisis there is threatening us, and we will not allow what is happening there to come to Bayelsa State,” the governor said last month about the suspended rally.

He had urged security agents in the state to be on alert and warned that any attempt to import Rivers’ political crisis to Bayelsa would be resisted.

Mr Wike’s spokesperson, Lere Olayinka, had dismissed Governor Diri’s security alert over the planned rally as baseless.

Mr Olayinka said Nigerians were free to express their support for anyone, anywhere and anytime.

Recall that Bayelsa was part of Rivers until the Sani Abacha military regime created it (Bayelsa) on 1 October 1996. Both states share a lot in common, culturally and politically.

Mr Wike, a former governor of Rivers, has been engaged in a protracted political fight with his suspended successor, Siminalayi Fubara, over the control of the political structures in the oil-rich state, a development that has outraged many Nigerians.

Governor Diri is among the top Nigerian leaders who condemned President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of emergency rule in Rivers as a fallout of the political fight between Messrs Wike and Fubara.

(PremiumTimes)