PDP chairman dismisses calls from Wike camping asking him to step down as childish

PEOPLES Democratic Party (PDP) chairman Senator Iyorchia Ayu has dismissed suggestions from Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and other opponents calling for his resignation ahead of the 2023 general elections.

In late June at its annual convention, the PDP, elected former vice president Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as its flagbearer for next year's presidential election. Governor Wike was a candidate in that election but he was beaten into second place and to make matters worse for him, he was not then picked as the party's running mate.

With Alhaji Abubakar opting to pick Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State as his running mate, Governor Wike has been on the war path and there are now fears that he will dump the PDP. Among other things, he has been fraternizing with members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)  lately, amid talk of him possibly decamping.

 Over the last week, there have been a series of meetings in London to resolve the crisis, with Atiku flying to the UK to meet with Governor Wike in person. Among the demands made by the Wike camp are that Senator Ayu should stand down as party chairman because he was not neutral during the primaries.

However, Senator Ayu has rejected this demand, calling those demanding his resignation  children, pointing out that he has not committed any offence that would warrant him being asked to step down. He dismissed those asking for his sacking as people who want to destabilise the party.

Senator Ayu said: “I was voted as PDP chairman for a four-year tenure and I’m yet to complete a year. Atiku’s victory doesn’t affect the chairman’s position as I won my election based on our party’s constitution.

“I didn’t commit any offence, I’m only reforming the party, so I’m not bothered with all the noises. I know I’m doing my work and I didn’t steal any money, so I see no reason for all these talks.

“When we started PDP, these children were not around. They are children who do not know why we formed the party. We will not allow any individual to destabilise our party.”

As the political temperature rises, Governor Wike has hit out at some of his critics like former party chairman and Kaduna State governor Ahmed Makarfi. He called on Governor Makarfi to ensure that the PDP wins in certain core states in northern Nigeria like Kano, Jigawa, Niger and Kaduna states.

Governor Wike said: “What I want to advise Makarfi is that make sure that PDP wins in Kaduna State, wins in Kano, win in Niger, in Jigawa. If PDP wins there, then see if we will win here or not. Operation deliver your state, don’t use any other state to add up.”