PDP Faction Loyal to Wike Increases Officials’ Salaries by 3,000%, Asks Governor Diri to Pay

A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State, loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has approved a dramatic salary increase for party officials, raising monthly stipends by over 3,000 percent and requesting the state government under Governor Douye Diri to implement the payment.

The decision was made by the party’s caretaker committee led by George Turnah, who is also the PDP’s South-South zonal secretary. In a communique dated May 8 and signed by Turnah and secretary Derri Wright, the faction announced a “new harmonised salary structure” that would raise the total monthly wage bill for party officials in the state to N306.5 million.

According to the communique, local government party chairpersons are to receive N621,000 monthly, up from N20,000, placing them on par with special advisers in the Bayelsa State Government. Vice chairpersons and secretaries at that level are to earn N336,000, while other local executive members would receive N196,000 each. At the ward level, salaries were raised from N5,000 to N336,000 for chairpersons, with vice chairpersons and secretaries earning N196,000, and other ward executives earning N120,000 monthly.

The communique also stated that elected officials at the senatorial district level and non-working committee members at the state level would now earn N621,000, while members of the state working committee would receive N1,048,500 monthly—equivalent to state commissioners. The implementation date was set for May 31, 2025.

The Turnah-led faction directed that the new structure be communicated to Governor Diri for action, stating that the adjustment underscores the party’s commitment to the welfare of its officials.

However, the Bayelsa State Government swiftly dismissed the announcement. Governor Diri’s spokesperson, Daniel Alabrah, rejected the communique, calling it “trash” and reiterating that there is no faction within the PDP in the state. He also emphasized that George Turnah remains suspended from the party and is under a court order restraining him from parading himself as a PDP member until the matter is legally resolved.

“The court directed him to stop parading himself as a member of the party until the matter is determined, but he is neglecting the order,” Alabrah said.

Turnah, once an ally of Governor Diri, has since aligned himself with Wike’s political bloc and is the convener of “New Associates,” a group supporting President Bola Tinubu’s potential re-election bid. His recent actions are seen as part of the ongoing power struggle within the PDP between factions loyal to Wike and those aligned with Diri.

Efforts to reach Turnah for comment on whether the Bayelsa State Government is expected to fund the new salary structure were unsuccessful. The national leadership of the PDP has also not commented on the legality or enforceability of the salary hike.

A party insider told *Premium Times* that state chapters typically fund executive stipends from membership dues, not government coffers. “If he (Turnah) is proposing this structure, it suggests he believes there are enough dues to support it,” the source said.

Governor Diri continues to lead the PDP in Bayelsa State and does not recognise Turnah’s group as a legitimate party faction.