Barr. George Turnah, the South South Zonal Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed delight over his appointment as Caretaker Chairman of the party in Bayelsa State.
Recall that the Chief Dan Orbih-led South South Zonal Working Committee of PDP recently announced Turnah’s appointment.
Turnah, via a statement by his media aide, Kelvin Loveday-Egbo, expressed gratitude to Orbih, and the Zonal Working Committee for the trust reposed in him to lead the state PDP.
He vowed to implement substantial reforms and improve the welfare package for members of the State Working Committee, Local Government, and Ward Executives.
Turnah, who is also a Member of the Order of the Niger (MON), assured that he would carry out his responsibilities with utmost respect, humility, and sincerity.
He further emphasized that his primary focus would be to reposition the party to secure victories in all elections in Bayelsa State in 2027.
The Bayelsa politician also indicated that he would consult with stakeholders regarding the need for a more suitable state secretariat for the PDP.
He clarified that he would not be “operating from the Super Lodge in Government House, Yenagoa, where his predecessor had been based for the past five years.”
Turnah explained that operating from within the Government House lodge would restrict his accessibility to party members seeking his attention on a daily basis.
He also emphasized that his leadership will prioritize increased engagement and consultation with stakeholders while fostering discipline within the party.
He pledged to maintain an open-door policy aimed at uniting the party and enhancing collaboration among its members.
Meanwhile, the Solomon Agwanana-led Bayelsa State PDP has dismissed the dissolution of the State Working Committee of the party and the subsequent appointment of a Caretaker Committee by what it described as the “factional Zonal Executive Committee” headed by Chief Dan Orbih.
In a statement by its spokesman, Ebiye Ogoli on Wednesday, the Agwanana-led faction of the party argued that Orbih lack the powers to dissolve the state working committee and apoint a caretaker committee.
The statement read: “The tenure of the former Zonal Executive Committee of the PDP elapsed on the 13th of March, 2025 and inorder to avoid a vacuum a Caretaker Committee was appointed and constituted by the National Working Committee (NWC) on the 13th March, 2025 and headed by Chief Emmanuel Ogidi to oversee the affairs of the Party pending the convocation of an Elective South South Zonal Congress of the Party.
“Additionally, the National Working Committee (NWC) had equally pronounced the factional Zonal PDP congress which was held in Calabar, Cross River State that produced Chief Dan Orbih and his ilk as unconstitutional and a nullity.
“We also place it on record that the Zonal EXCO of the Party even when it is properly constituted still lacks the constitutional powers to dissolve a State Working Committee of the Party.
“Similarly, the State High Court which sat in respect of the suspension slammed on Mr. George Turnah by the State EXCO of PDP is yet to determine the case brought before it and in which case Mr. George Turnah still remains suspended from membership of the PDP in Bayelsa State,” the statement read in part.
