State Chairmen of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have rejected calls by some aggrieved party members for the resignation of the party’s National Chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu.
It had been reported that Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and those in his camp have called for Ayu’s removal over his alleged partiality as party chairman and his promise to resign if the PDP produces a presidential candidate from the northern part of the country.
Also, the Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), Walid Jibrin, had called for Ayu’s resignation, stating that it is unfair for the North to hold major positions in the party.
A former Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, has, however, described Wike as a bluff in a recent interview. The former Governor, when asked if the people of Rivers State would follow Wike’s directive, said they could decide to be slaves to Wike, whom he called an emperor.
Some PDP state chairmen have advised the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, not to sacrifice Iyorchia Ayu, insisting that Wike should not believe he had the right to dictate conditions for reconciliation.
The Adamawa State PDP Chairman, A. Shehu, told The PUNCH, ‘’Atiku should not succumb to any pressure or condition from the side of Wike or whoever. In all the religions and holy books, it is written that God is the giver of power; he does not make consultation before he gives power.
‘’Wike or not Wike, if Nigerians decide by the wish of God Atiku will be president, come 2023. In as much as Wike is important, we will not neglect him, but he should not take it as a right to give conditions for him to support Atiku.’’
The Jigawa State PDP Chairman, Babandi Gumel, stated, “Do you want me to book my boss (Lamido) after he has spoken? I am in total support of what he said.”
Weighing on the issue, the Kaduna state PDP Chairman, Hyat, insisted that the removal of a national chairman of the party had laid down procedures in the constitution of the party.
“So even if Wike wants the national chairman to go, there are procedures. So, what infractions had the national chairman done that will warrant somebody to ask him to go?’’ he asked.
Meanwhile, the Chairman, Forum of PDP States Chairmen, Felix Hyat, said the party remained supreme above any individual or group in the land.
Hyat was reacting to a recent meeting between Wike and the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu.
He said, “I and all the States Chairmen of PDP in Nigeria have endorsed the following resolutions: The party is supreme to any individual or group of individuals.
“We are fully in support of all our standard-bearers from national to state levels. We appreciate the efforts of all the organs of the party and individuals committed to resolving all areas of pain in the party.’’
