Political intrigues and battle for the soul of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South-South geo-political zone have further advanced, with the announcement of a new South -South Zonal Caretaker Committee in Abuja last night.

“The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has, pursuant to the provisions of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017) approved the composition of the South South Zonal Caretaker Committee to manage the affairs of the party in the Zone from Monday, March 10, 2025,” PDP National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Debo Ologunagba stated.

With the move, PDP forces that are not in support of pro-Wike forces in the zone led by Chief Dan Orbih (Edo state) who was PDP South-South Zonal Chairman and George Turnah (Bayelsa state) former Zonal Legal Adviser who was announced as new Zonal Secretary in place of Felix Omemu aim to finally end their claims to leadership.

With the backing of several PDP governors in the zone, the new announcement also aims to finally invalidate the Zonal Executive Meeting (ZEM) convened by Chief Dan Orbih in Benin, Edo State on February 15.

While it is generally assumed that FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike fully backs Orbih and the convening of a South-South zonal executive meeting and its plan for a zonal congress, Rivers State governor Siminalayi Fubara and some of his colleagues in the zone prefer contrary options.

According to PDP spokesman, Ologunagba, the new “decision of the NWC is predicated on the need to avoid any vacuum and ensure the smooth running of the affairs of the party in the South South Zone at the expiration of the tenure of the current Zonal Executive on Sunday, March 9, 2025.”

Instructively, March 10 has become a date loaded with much expectations in the party as the Supreme Court’s decision in favour of either Senator Samuel Anyanwu or Honourable Sunday Udeh-Okoye who is being backed by several PDP governors and members of the PDP National Working Committee would determine a lot for contending forces.

Anambra State gubernatorial aspirants in the party have stayed away from picking the party’s N40 million nomination forms out of fears that if it is signed by one of the claimants to the office of National Secretary whose claims fail at the Supreme Court on March 10, would end up invalidating their forms.

Consequently, all the aspirants are individually waiting until March 10 which is the new date for the end of nominations, with plans to collect and submit before midnight on that day when the nomination would close.

As party stakeholders await the March 10 date to end prevailing anxieties and finally resolve the crisis over who is authentic National Secretary, Ologunagba has also announced the names of members of the new South South Zonal Caretaker Committee who are to take over the running of PDP zonal affairs in the zone.

The seven-member South South Zonal Caretaker Committee announced by Ologunagba will have Bro. Emma Ogidi as its Chairman while Chief Damiete Herbert-Miller -will function as Secretary.

Other members of the committee are: Hon. Nicholas Ayuwa, Barrister Godwin Akpan Udonta, Mrs. Bekewei Ashanti, Mr. Idehen Ebomoyi and Dame Vivian Ahanmisi.

“The South South Zonal Caretaker Committee is to oversee the activities of the party in the zone for a period of three month or until when a new Zonal Executive is elected in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of the PDP,”.

“The NWC enjoins all party leaders, critical stakeholders and members of the PDP in the South South Zone to be guided by this and continue to work together in the overall interest of the Party in the Zone,” Ologunagba stated.