The South-South Zonal Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) held an Emergency Meeting on Tuesday, 8th September 2026, at the Rivers State Secretariat of the Party.

Following the demise of the Zonal Chairman, Chief Dan Osi Orbih, and the vacancy in the office of the Zonal Secretary arising from the election of the previous occupant, High Chief (Hon.) George Turnah, MON, Esq., as Bayelsa State Chairman of the Party, the meeting was convened and presided over by the Zonal Treasurer, Mrs. Evelyn Nkechi Weke, being the most senior officer of the Zonal Working Committee.

At the end of deliberations, the following resolutions were reached:

1. The Zonal Working Committee resolved to admit the Bayelsa State Chairman of the Party and former Zonal Secretary, High Chief (Hon.) George Turnah, MON, Esq., into the Zonal Working Committee. He is hereby empowered to preside over meetings of the Zonal Working Committee and to direct the affairs of the Party in the Zone in the interim, pending the appointment of an Acting Zonal Chairman by the National Working Committee.
2. The Zonal Working Committee formally announces the death of the Zonal Chairman, Chief Dan Osi Orbih, and extends sincere condolences on behalf of the South-South Geo-Political Zone to the Orbih family, the Edo State Chapter of the Party, the National Leader of the Party, His Excellency Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, CON, the National Working Committee, and the entire PDP family in Nigeria.
3. The Zonal Working Committee notes that the late Zonal Chairman died in active service and calls on the National leadership of the Party to accord him a befitting national burial.
4. The Zonal Working Committee acknowledges the significant contributions of the late Zonal Chairman to the growth, progress, and stability of the PDP and calls on the National leadership to take appropriate steps to immortalise his name.
5. The Zonal Working Committee constituted an enlarged Committee to interface with the National leadership of the Party, the Orbih family, and other relevant stakeholders to facilitate a befitting burial for the late Zonal Chairman. Membership of the Committee is as follows:

i. Chief Lesi Mao (National Ex-Officio, Rivers State) – Chairman

ii. High Chief (Hon.) George Turnah, MON, Esq. (Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party, Bayelsa State) – Co-Chairman

iii. Hon. Hillary Otsu (Secretary, Edo State PDP) – Secretary

iv. Hon. John Ndubueze Nwachukwu (Acting Chairman, Rivers State) – Member

v. Dr. Peter Mrakpor, SAN (Chairman, Delta State) – Member

vi. Hon. Nosa Ogieva, Esq. (Chairman, Edo State) – Member

vii. Hon. Venatus Ikem, Esq. (Chairman, Cross River State) – Member

viii. Rt. Hon. Aniekan Akpan (Chairman, Akwa Ibom State) – Member

ix. Hon. Nsed Akonjom Ekom (National Ex-Officio, Cross River) – Member

x. Hon. Anthony Ikuenobe (National Ex-Officio, Edo) – Member

xi. Hon. Bassir Momoh Dejih (Deputy National Youth Leader) – Member

xii. Hon. Efere Augustin (Deputy National Organising Secretary) – Member

xiii. Hon. Mrs. Evelyn Nkechi Weke (Zonal Treasurer) – Member

xiv. Hon. Prince Etim Isong (Zonal Publicity Secretary) – Member

xv. Hon. Philomena Jonathan (Zonal Woman Leader) – Member

xvi. Desmond Owie (Personal Assistant to the late National Vice Chairman) – Member

6. The Zonal Working Committee also received members of the Rivers State Working Committee of the Party on a condolence visit, led by the State Acting Chairman, Hon. John Ndubueze Nwachukwu, in the company of the Party’s Governorship Candidate in Rivers State, Hon. Sir Sunny Ejikwu, and other stakeholders.
7. The Zonal Working Committee expresses its deep appreciation and gratitude to the National Leader of the Party, His Excellency Chief Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, CON, the National Working Committee, members of the National Executive Committee (NEC), the Board of Trustees (BOT), stakeholders, and indeed all Nigerians for their support to the late Zonal Chairman while he lived, and for their sympathy and condolences since his passing.
8. The meeting was attended by eight out of the ten members of the Zonal Working Committee, as follows:

i. High Chief (Hon.) George Turnah, MON, Esq. – Interim Moderator

ii. Hon. Mrs. Evelyn Nkechi Weke – Zonal Treasurer

iii. Hon. Prince Abraham Kokoimgbi – Zonal Financial Secretary

iv. Hon. Timothy Okwoche – Zonal Organising Secretary

v. Hon. Prince Etim Isong – Zonal Publicity Secretary

vi. Hon. Chief Opuene Iyenemi Briggs – Zonal Legal Adviser

vii. Hon. Chief Abaribote Loveday – Zonal Auditor

viii. Hon. Mrs. Philomena Jonathan – Zonal Woman Leader

Signed:
Prince Etim Isong
Zonal Publicity Secretary