Wike: Iyorchia Ayu Speaks On Crisis Rocking PDP

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Iyorchia Ayu, has spoken on the crisis rocking the party, saying that members have nothing to worry about.

Recall that the crisis rocking the PDP started after its presidential primaries, where Atiku Abubakar defeated Governor Nyesom Wike, former Senate President Bukola Saraki, Governor Bala Mohammed, and many others to clinch the opposition party’s ticket.

Loyalists of Governor Wike have called for the resignation of Senator Iyorchia Ayu, stressing that the party’s presidential candidate, party chairman, and Board of Trustees (BoT) chairman, Walid Jubrin, cannot all come from the same zone.

Reports had claimed that the party leaders had agreed that the National Chairman would have to resign if a northerner emerged as the PDP’s presidential candidate.

While Wike and his loyalists call for Ayu’s removal for peace to return to the opposition party, Atiku and his camp insist that the PDP chairman must remain until at least after the 2023 election.

Ayu, who traveled on vacation on June 21, returned on Friday.

Speaking to The PUNCH, Senator Ayu doused the tension in the party over his absence.

The PDP chairman asked members of the party not to panic, saying the party remained strong and formidable.

He said, “I am back from my vacation, and I will resume on Monday. There is nothing to worry about in our party. Our party remains strong and formidable.”

Recall that Governor of Ekiti State and Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), Kayode Fayemi, had led Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos and Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State to a closed-door meeting with the Rivers State governor on Friday.

This has increased speculations that the Rivers governor may be plotting to join the ruling APC.