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PDP Crisis: Wike’s Camp Calls For Ayu’s Removal As Nat’l Chairman

Published

2 years ago

Jul 3, 2022.

Yinka Akanbi

When Atiku paid a visit to Wike shortly after he won the primary, the Rivers governor reminded him of the need to ask Ayu to step down
A source outside the camp said Wike became unhappy with Ayu after the party chairman visited Sokoto governor, Aminu Tambuwal

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Iyorchia Ayu, has found himself at the centre of the face-off between the presidential candidate of the party, Atiku Abubakar, and Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, which is tearing the main opposition party apart, ahead of the 2023 general elections.

Wike’s camp has demanded that Ayu relinquish his position so that the party can elect a new chairman from the southern part of the country.

They said Ayu’s removal from the party’s chairmanship is necessary to address the lopsidedness in the PDP hierarchy.

But Atiku is backing Ayu to stay on, at least until after the elections next year, those familiar with the matter said.

According to a member of the camp, as the party made to elect Ayu as chairman, the leaders agreed that in the event of a northern presidential candidate emerging, the former Senate President, who is from Benue State in the North Central zone, would resign and make way for a southern substitute.

Atiku’s victory at the primary had given the northern wing of the party all the top positions in the party with Ayu as national chairman and Walid Jubrin as chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees. The deputy national chairman (North), Umar Damagun, being from the same region, is next in line to Ayu and takes responsibility whenever the chairman is not available.

Thus, when Atiku paid a visit to Wike shortly after he won the primary, the Rivers governor reminded him of the need to ask Ayu to step down.

“During the visit, Wike and Atiku held a private meeting and it was Atiku who brought up the issue of his running mate,” a source in Wike’s camp said.

“He told Wike that he had not made up his mind on the issue and he asked Wike whether he would take it or nominate a person to take the slot. Wike told Atiku that he would need to consult with his people on the offer.

“Then Wike reminded Atiku of the agreement that Ayu would resign if a northerner won the primary. Atiku said he would discuss it with Ayu but that both of them should keep the issue between them until he had persuaded the chairman to resign.

“Unfortunately, we later heard that Atiku told Ayu that Wike was demanding that he should be removed. When we heard that, we were surprised because by then, Wike had not even told us that he discussed the issue with Atiku,” the insider said.

“They are now arguing that Ayu should be allowed to stay on until after the election. They are playing games so that if Atiku loses, they will say it is unnecessary for Ayu to leave. That way the South will continue to be marginalised in the party.”

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However, a source outside the camp said Wike became unhappy with Ayu after the party chairman visited Sokoto governor, Aminu Tambuwal, the day after the party’s national convention in Abuja.

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