PDP Shuts Down Twitter Account

By Dipo Olowookere

The official Twitter account of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), @PDPNigeria, has been closed.

The opposition party also disowned one Deji Adeyanju as its Director of New Media and has now launched a new Twitter handle, @officialpdpnig, for effective control of its affairs.

In a statement signed on Monday in Abuja by the party’s Head of PDP Publicity Unit, Chinwe Nnorom, the party said that the Chairman, National Caretaker Committee of the party, Sen. Ahmed Makarfi, directed the immediate closure of the party’s official twitter handle “@pdpnigeria“ and re-launched a new one.

It said that the decision became necessary due to the frequent unauthorized, and at most times, embarrassing tweets that emanated from the handle tweeted by the handlers claiming to represent the PDP.

It recalled 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 statement said.

It added that the PDP leadership also frowned at the incessant and unauthorized statements being issued by some party members purported to have spoken for and on behalf of the party.

The party recalled that its National Publicity Secretary, on June 17, 2015, issued a statement entitled, “PDP disowns group over unauthorized statements on Buhari”.

It said that the party had also urged members nationwide to desist from making official statements on its behalf without authorization.

“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 Deji Adeyanju as PDP Director of New Media.

“For emphasis, Social 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, Mr 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.

“Finally, the party calls on all members to unite and work together with the National Caretaker Committee in their quest to achieve harmony, rebrand, rebuild and revitalise the vision, mission and ideals of our founding fathers.”