Wike insists on Ayu’s dismissal and has the backing of seven governors (Full List)

By Adeleye Kunle

Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike’s camp has made two demands to end the Peoples Democratic Party’s stalemate (PDP).
In its demand to the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, Governor Wike’s camp insisted on the resignation of the party’s National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu.

Seven PDP governors have backed the call, including Seyi Makinde, Bala Mohammed, Okezie Ikpeazu, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Samuel Ortom, and two others.

According to a source, they have also agreed to be a part of the party’s presidential campaign, despite Wike’s disinterest in the position of campaign director.

According to the source, the camp demanded that trust be built between the North and South.

“After many hours of reviewing the events of the past few months, the two camps tabled their terns to heal wounds in the party ahead of the flag off of the 2023 general election campaign,” a source told The Nation.

“Wike’s group has ruled out abandoning the party and has pledged to support it throughout the campaign and election.”

“Although the group claimed Wike was not interested in becoming Director-General of the PDP Campaign Council, it demanded inclusion in the party in order to foster trust between the North and the South.”

“The group insisted that the PDP’s National Chairman, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, step aside in order for the party to fulfill its pledges to support and work for Atiku.”

“Aside from urging Ayu to keep his promise to leave the seat if a Northerner is elected president, the group cited a similar situation and how the PDP dealt with it in the past.”

“Wike’s team stated that when former President Goodluck Jonathan was announced as the PDP’s presidential candidate, the then-national chairman, Dr Okwesilieze Nwodo, resigned to allow a Northern candidate, Dr Haliru Mohammed, to lead the party to victory.”

This article first appeared on TRACK news.