We will not allow any individual to destabilise PDP — Ayu

…Lambasts those calling for his sack

…Call for Ayu’s removal untimely, self serving — Ajibola

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Sen. Iyorchia Ayu has said the party would not allow individuals to destabilise the peace being recorded in the party, whilst describing those calling for his resignation as ‘children’ who were not around when the party was formed.

As observers believed the call for Ayu’s removal was self-serving and untimely, the Chairman said he was not bothered about the calls for his resignation, saying the proponents of such moves are youngsters who do not have a grasp of the goals of the party when it was formed.

Ayu said that PDP members and stakeholders elected him based on the laid down rules of the main opposition party.

In an interview with the BBC Hausa Service, the National Chairman pointed out that even if there would be another election, those calling for his resignation would not be able to replace him.

The camp of the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has allegedly been calling for the resignation of Ayu as a condition to mend the fractured relationship between the governor and PDP’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

The PDP set up a panel to reconcile the two men, Wike insisted on the removal of the Party’s Chairman.

Atiku had last week met with the Governor in the United Kingdom as part of the reconciliation process.

But reacting during an interview with BBC Hausa, the National Chairman stated “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. I won my election based on our party’s constitution.

“I didn’t commit any offense; 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,” he said.

It was widely reported that the PDP National Chairman had signed a resignation letter which was in the custody of a former President of the Senate and chieftain of the party, David Mark, but Ayu debunked the report.

…Call for Ayu’s removal untimely, self serving — Ajibola 

One of the stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Seyi Ajibola, National President, Victory Advocate of Nigeria (VAN) has described an attempt by a group of people to prevail on PDP’s National Chairman, Sen. Iyorchia Ayu to resign as unnecessary and not needed. This demand coming at a wrong time, according to him, is not in the interest of the party but individuals selfish interest.

Speaking to Nigerian NewsDirect, Ajibola said PDP should be more concerned about winning 2023 general elections to rescue Nigeria from APC maladministration, rather than witch-hunting each other.

According to him, Dr. Ayu is right by saying he was elected for a 4-year tenure and the position of the party constitution is clear on that. If there is going to be any review, it should be at the discretion of the party leadership to create a balance after its presidential candidate might have emerged as the winner in 2023.

He said, “The position of the party is clear and we are guided by the constitution and the constitution makes it clear that if opportunity is given like that, definitely if the presidency is coming from the North and the National Chairman is coming from the same zone.

“It is of necessity that if the party presidential candidate emerges the winner and we are able to establish that this position should be shed to the South, I think nobody will tell Dr. Ayu to step aside for one or two reasons.

“However, as it is now, we are working towards winning an election and this is not the right time to create unnecessary rancour within the party. Every hand must be on deck now to ensure victory and that’s the position of the Youth support group.

“We have been running around, we have been trying our best to keep things in shape, what we need now is winning. You know when you win, you can then have a roundtable meeting and decide to let this one go this way. It is better to fight inside the government house than for us to be fighting outside.

“All the benefits our leaders enjoy today came from PDP, whether Wike, Ortom and even Dr. Ayu. They all have benefitted a lot from the party. Leadership or leaders of the party should not create a kind of rumbling issue for we youths that are comming. Most youths in the party are agitating for winning, organising different programs to mobilise people to channel Nigeria in the right direction.

Ajibola added that Atiku remains the only option for Nigerians who desire a change in government as Obi is not. Therefore, he appealed to the party leaders to put up their house in order to complement the efforts of the youth wing of the party.

“Nobody is pleased with the system of ruling of APC administration, so if we are not pleased with that system of governance, then Obi is not the option unless we just want to waste our time. I told someone recently that I don’t know the mountains Obi has gone to pray for and he was told he’s going to be the president of Nigeria in 2023.

“What we need to be concerned about now is how to make things work. When Atiku won the primary election, he paid a courtesy visit to the same Governor Wike, which everyone of us saw on social media. If they could come together then, why can’t they agree on how they want things to be done?

“PDP youths are not happy about the unnecessary mayhem the leaders of the party are putting us through. We should channel our energy towards bringing a formidable party to rescue Nigeria from APC.

“Ayu is still the party Chairman. If anybody is having a contrary opinion about that, the constitution is there. I read the statement where Dr. Ayu said he was elected for a 4-year term, it means he has the right to spend 4 years but in another direction, when the presidency comes from his zone, it’s automatic objective of the party that respect should be given to another zone to lead the party and that’s the bedrock of the argument.

“If the argument of Governor Wike and his team is that Dr. Ayu should resign for us to win, we youths can also look in that direction but if it’s to satisfy a certain group of people for their selfish interest, we are not in support of that.

“Party interest supersedes any individual interest. We youth wing of PDP are determined that no matter what, we will put in our best.

“We believe the crises will be resolved maybe at the tail end, so, if the youth are joining arguments with them in the public, we are only wasting our time. Creating a formidable team that will deliver for Atiku Abubakar is our focus for now.”