…As PDP Chairman Seeks Survival Strategy
The meeting and likely concessions between the presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar and Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state in London is believed to have unsettled the National Chairman of the party, Senator Iyorcha Ayu as it currently puts his job on the line.
It was learnt that since the meeting between Atiku and Wike, Ayu had held several meetings with PDP stakeholders as he perfects strategies to save his chairmanship position.
The New Diplomat had reported that following the PDP presidential primary election, Wike had been at loggerheads with Atiku and some stakeholders in the party.
In a move to save the party from its present stormy waters ahead of the 2023 General elections, the party constituted a reconciliation panel to address all grievances in the party.
During one of the meetings, the camp loyal to Wike demanded for the resignation of Ayu on the grounds that the two most important positions in the party are held by Northerners.
Wike’s loyalists held that Ayu should resign for a southerner to allow for equity and fairness.
Following the meeting between Wike and Atiku, sources revealed they’re aware that the presidential candidate had agreed to meet the demands of the governor.
The source stated, “He (Atiku) has agreed to meet all demands. He will sign an undertaking on all the agreements. Once he is able to meet them, the Wike group is ready to work with him. The details will be made known.”
The source however failed to reveal more details on the agreement reached.
Aware of the meeting and the apparent threat to his headship of the PDP, Ayu was said to have held several meetings between Thursday and Friday with PDP stakeholders. It was gathered that Ayu, during the meetings expressed his concerns that the table may turns against him if Atiku eventually yields to the demand of Wike’s camp.
Recall also that Ayu had through his Special Adviser (Media & Communication), Simon Imobo-Tswam, said he cannot resign because he was elected for a four-year tenure.
According to the statement, “we restate, therefore, that the PDP National Chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, has not resigned and has no plan of resigning. For clarity and emphasis, he was elected for a tenure of four years.”
Imobo-Tswam had appealed to PDP members and the general public to ignore any stories of such, adding that Sections 45 and 47 of the PDP constitution are clear on the removal and/or resignation of the national chairman.
