…National Secretary Disowns Aniekan-Led Exco Dissolution, Says SWC Remains Valid
The State Working Committee (SWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Akwa Ibom State, has officially passed a vote of confidence on Rt. Hon. Elder Aniekan Akpan as the authentic Chairman of the party.
The endorsement came during a press briefing at the party secretariat in Atan Offot, Uyo, where members unanimously adopted Akpan and his executive as the only recognised officials of the party.
During the briefing, the PDP in Akwa Ibom debunked reports circulating on social media alleging the dissolution of its State Executive Committee (Exco) and reaffirmed their collective resolve to stand firmly behind Akpan’s leadership.
Speaking at the event, the State Chairman, Elder Aniekan Akpan, dismissed the claims as false, unconstitutional, and politically motivated. He insisted that the present Exco was duly elected at a properly convened state congress for a four-year tenure and therefore remains firmly in office.
Elder Akpan further stated that there was no formal sitting of the National Working Committee (NWC) or consultation before the purported dissolution and so the action remains illegal and the information false.
He noted that the vote of confidence as again countered narratives suggesting internal disloyalty or factional rifts, citing instances where the alleged caretaker committee included some SWC leaders without consultation or consent, an arrangement those members have since publicly rejected.
The Chairman also read an official letter from the National Secretary of the PDP, Senator Samuel N. Anyanwu, who dismissed as false the statement announcing the dissolution of the Akwa Ibom SWC, however, the letter affirmed that the Exco remains valid and intact.
Addressed to the State Chairman, the letter described the purported press release issued by the National Publicity Secretary (NPS) as “null and void” and lacking the authority of the National Working Committee.
“For purposes of clarity, that press release should be discountenanced, because there was no formal sitting of the National Working Committee (NWC) in which such decision was taken,” Anyanwu wrote.
He stressed that it is not within the official duties of the NPS to implement decisions of the NWC, adding that the announcement had no legal basis in the party’s constitution.
Consequently, the National Secretary reaffirmed the legitimacy of the Akwa Ibom SWC and directed the state leadership to continue discharging its functions as provided in the PDP Constitution (2017, as amended).
