Nelson Utip
Two PDP stalwarts in Bayelsa state, George Turnah, The South South zonal Secretary, and The State Chairman, Solomon Agwanana are at each other’s jocular over supremacy, the tensions is said to have escalated when The State Chairman issued a letter dated March 5, 2025, with his signature and that of the State Secretary, Gesiye Isowo, and Publicity Secretary, Ebiye Ogoli, accusing Turnah of trying to form a parallel party structure by recruiting party officials at the ward, local government, and state levels.
Agwanana and his Exco believe that Turnah’s actions are aimed at destabilising the party, they warned officials against associating with him, threatening sanctions against any party member found collaborating with him in his skirmishes.
In his response , Turnah, through his Media Aide , Kevin Loveday-Egbo, in a statement entitled “Time for Change Has Arrived”, dismissed the allegations and said Agwanana has failed as a leader, he further said that
Agwanana’s time as Chairman is soon ending. He stated that his poor leadership had led to a dwindling fortune of PDP in Bayelsa State.
“The party is losing committed members to the opposition due to Agwanana’s leadership failure and his promotion of factionalism within the PDP.” Turnah said while calling on governor Diri ot to be deceived by Agwanana’s antics and deceptive strategies. He made reference to the poor turnout of members of The State Executive Council to a recent meeting as an indication of the failure of his leadership.
The South South Secretary emphasized the urgent need for intervention, he warned that if the situation is not remedied, the fortunes of PDP will further deteriorate, He called on party members to unite and restore the party’s integrity by ensuring that an authentic leadership emerges.
“As leaders of this party, we must save it from Agwanana’s incompetence and ineffective leadership. His inability to manage the party properly has led to mass discontent among party members.
“If Agwanana understood the level of dissatisfaction within the party, he would realise that he and his allies are mere shadows of their former selves. Change is here, and it is inevitable.” Turnah said.
He called on PDP leaders both at the state and national levels to acknowledge the critical situation facing the party and push for a new leadership that will prioritise accountability, unity, and effective governance.
