PDP Implosion? Orbih Rejects South-South Caretaker Committee, Calls Out Party Leadership

In an interview with Punch, Dan Orbih, the PDP National Vice Chairman for the South-South, openly criticized the decision made by the Umar Damagum-led NWC. On March 7, the NWC appointed Emma Ogidi as the Chairman of the Caretaker Committee and later scheduled April 12 as the new date for the South-South zonal congress.

Originally, the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting was set for March 13, following multiple postponements since the last NEC meeting in April 2024. However, it has now been shifted to May 15.

Adding to the controversy, on February 21, 2025, the Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt issued a restraining order preventing the PDP and Orbih from holding the zonal congress on February 22. Despite the ruling, the congress proceeded as scheduled.

Wike, who attended and backed the congress held in Calabar, Cross River State, declared that the South-South remains the PDP’s strongest base and insisted that no further congress would take place in the region. He also affirmed that the zonal congress was legally conducted, maintaining that Orbih remains the legitimate National Vice Chairman.

However, the Damagum-led NWC disregarded Wike’s stance and went ahead with appointing Ogidi as the Chairman of the Caretaker Committee.

Reacting to this, Orbih dismissed the legitimacy of the committee, stating:

“Nobody has communicated that caretaker thing to me. I think there is a chap called Debo Ologunagba who is now entertaining himself, issuing statements and claiming to be speaking on behalf of the NWC. I can tell you with all certainty that no such meeting of the NWC took place.”

He further accused Ologunagba of embarrassing the PDP leadership:

“Ologunagba is doing this to save face, but he’s only embarrassing the entire PDP leadership. That statement about the caretaker committee should be ignored by the good people of the South-South.”

Orbih also advised Ologunagba against using his personal challenges as an excuse to continue embarrassing the party.