A group of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members, led by the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has reportedly withdrawn from participating in the presidential campaign committee of the party during the 2023 elections.
They insisted that the National Chairman of the PDP, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, must resign for them to rescind their decision.
They made their position known in a resolution read by PDP’S former deputy national chairman, Bode George, after a long meeting held at Governor Wike’s private residence on Wednesday.
George noted that the group vowed not to participate in the campaign committee in whatever capacity except Ayu resign his position for a southerner.
“The pertinent issue remains the resolution of the leadership which is a departure of Senator Iyorchia Ayu must resign as the National Chairman of the party for an acting Chairman of the Southern Nigerian extraction to emerge and lead the party on the national campaign,” George said
“Consequently, we resolve not to participate in the campaign council in whatever capacity until the resignation of Dr. Iyorchia Ayu.”
Jerry Gana, former Minister of Information, also calls for Ayu to step down.
Gana stated that the group is not “aggrieved” but rather they believe that it is important “to ensure a just, fair, principled, and constitutional structure” for the party.
He added that If PDP wants to restructure Nigeria then the party should therefore have the courage to restructure itself.
“You cannot build on a faulty foundation,” he said
Meanwhile, the Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, added that they “hope that the powers that be listen to the voice of reason and do the needful”.
Present at the gathering includes Governor Seyi Makinde; former Governors Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo, Ayo Fayose of Ekiti, Donald Duke of Cross River, Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe and Jonah Jang of Plateau, former Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke.
Others are Olabode George, Jerry Gana; South-South Chairman of the PDP, Dan Orbih; former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chibudom Nwuche; Senator Suleiman Nazif, Nnenna Ukeje, among several others.
the guardian
