The Bayelsa state chapter of the PDP Is teetering on the edge of a fresh crisis as a heated clash of words between the South-South Zonal Secretary, George Turnah, and the state PDP Chairman, Solomon Agwanana threatens the stability of the Bayelsa PDP. As the struggle for political power intensifies in Nigeria, this crisis adds to the long list of crises that are currently rocking the PDP in different other states.
Cause of Conflict?
The Clash in the Bayelsa PDP leadership escalated after a letter signed by the Agwanana, the State Secretary, Gesiye Isowo, and the Publicity Secretary, Ebiye Ogoli on the 5th of March 2025, accused Turnah of attempting to recruit party officials at the ward, local government, and state levels to form a parallel party structure.
The state PDP leadership alleged that Turnah through his actions aims to destabilize the party, it also warned other officials from associating with Turnah, threatening heavy sanctions on party members found fraternising with him.
Turnah’s Response?
The Zonal Secretary, George Turnah immediately fired back. In a statement issued through his media assistant Kevin Loveday-Egbo, Turnah asserted that it was time for a change. He accused the Bayelsa PDP chairman of failed leadership, claiming that his tenure as a chairman is coming to an end. The statement titled “Time for Change Has Arrived”, dismissed the allegations levelled against him, blaming Agwanana’s poor leadership for the instability in the party and the decline of the party’s influence within the 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 claimed.
Statement to the Governor
He further beckoned on the present Bayelsa state Governor Douye Diri to not be misled by Agwanana’s deceptive political strategies, pointing out that the low turnout of State Executive Council (SEC) members at a recent meeting was proof of widespread dissatisfaction within the party.
Turnah’s Appeal to PDP Members: An Urgent Call to Action
Turnah stressed the urgent need for intervention within the PDP, citing a critical situation threatening the party’s future. He emphasized that without immediate action, the party’s decline will accelerate. Turnah called for unity and the emergence of authentic leadership to restore the PDP’s integrity.
“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.
Turnah therefore urged PDP leaders at all levels state and national to acknowledge the gravity of the situation and actively support a shift towards a new leadership that prioritizes accountability, unity, and effective governance.
Conclusion
The escalating conflict within the Bayelsa State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) highlights a deepening crisis threatening the party’s stability. The public accusations and counter-accusations between South-South Zonal Secretary George Turnah and State Chairman Solomon Agwanana expose significant internal divisions. While Agwanana accuses Turnah of attempting to create a parallel party structure, Turnah counters with allegations of Agwanana’s failed leadership, citing declining party influence and low morale among members.
Turnah’s appeal for intervention from Governor Douye Diri and the national PDP leadership underscores the seriousness of the situation and the potential for further fracturing within the party. The outcome of this conflict will significantly impact the PDP’s prospects in Bayelsa State and could serve as a microcosm of the broader challenges facing the party nationwide. Unless addressed swiftly and decisively, this internal struggle risks further eroding the PDP’s base and hindering its ability to compete effectively in future elections.
