The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has shutdown it’s former Twitter handle
@Pdpnigeria and relaunched a new handle @officialpdpnig, saying it has no
position as director of new media.
The party in a statement signed by head, publicity division for the
national publicity secretary, Adm. Chinwe I. Nnorom, said the decision was
taken to stop further unauthorized tweets.
It would be recalled that one Prince Deji Adeyanju, as director new media,
has issued statements on behalf of the party in the last one week
challenging the APC-led government over its economic policies.
The statement reads, “I am directed by the Leadership of our great Party,
the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by H. E. Senator Ahmed Mohammed
Makarfi, CON, to announce the immediate closure of the Party’s Official
Twitter Handle, @pdpnigeria and re-launch of another handle for effective
use and control. The New Handle is @officialpdpnig henceforth.
“This decision has once again become necessary due to the frequent
unauthorized, and most times embarrassing tweets that emanate from the
Handle tweeted by the Handlers claiming to represent the PDP. You will
recall that the Party had in the past, announced the Shutdown of the
Handle on two occasions when hackers manipulated it to embarrass the
Party.
“Following these developments, the Party hereby informs all its members,
supporters, friends, the Media and general public to ignore and disregard
any tweet from the Handle @pdpnigeria forthwith.
“In view of the above, the Party has immediately re-launched a new
Handle,@officialpdpnig to form part of the Social Media Platform of our
great Party for ease of communication, administration and control.”
The PDP further said, in addition, the leadership has also frowned at the
incessant and unauthorized statements that are being issued by some Party
members purported to have spoken for and on behalf of the Party, the
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). For the record, you may recall that the
National Publicity Secretary on June 17, 2015 issued a Statement Titled:
“PDP Disown group over unauthorized statements on Buhari”; and urged
members nationwide to desist from making official statement(s) on behalf
of the Party without authorization.
On the position of the director, new media, the statement said, “Also,
the PDP hereby states unequivocally that the position of Director of New
Media is non-existent and alien to the PDP Establishment Manual, and has
not appointed Prince Deji Adeyanju as the PDP Director of New Media.For
emphasis, Social (new) Media is one of the Units in the Publicity Division
of the Party and not a separate directorate, division or unit.
“For clarification, the National Publicity Secretary, Prince Dayo Adeyeye
is currently the Chief Spokesman and Image-maker of our Party in line with
the PDP Constitution. Consequently, nobody is allowed to issue official
statement or speak for and on behalf of the Party except authorized by the
Party hierarchy to do so. The Leadership warns that it will not hesitate
to take disciplinary measures accordingly against any member that flouts
this directive.
“However, the Leadership welcome members and supporters who may wish to
speak in their official or personal capacities to do so,but in tune with
the Party’s rules of engagement and interest on the subject matter under
discourse to avoid speaking at variance with the Party.
“Finally, the Party calls on all our members nationwide to unite and work
together with the National Caretaker Committee in their quest to achieve
harmony, rebrand, rebuild and revitalize the vision, mission and ideals of
our founding fathers.”