PDP Shuts Down Twitter Handle, Disowns Director New Media

The Peoples Democratic Party on Monday 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,
and made available to LEADERSHIP in Abuja, 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.”