Call For Ayu’s Resignation: Osun, Ondo, Ogun PDP Disown Makinde, Apologize To Ayu, Party, Atiku
The call for People’s Democratic Party ( PDP ) National Chairman of the party, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu’s resignation in Southwest received a major setback after the presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar visited the zone last Wednesday, as Ogun, Osun, and Ondo state party leaders declared their support for the embattled chairman of the party against the wish of the Oyo state governor, Seyi Makinde who is the leader of the party in the zone.
Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, former Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko, former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose, the Deputy National Chairman (South) of the party, Taofeek Arapaja, and former Deputy National Chairman of the party, Chief Olabode George are the arrowheads of the Ayu Must Go campaign in the South West zone, they are supporting Rivers governor, Wike on the ground that, Ayu must quit in fulfillment of his pre-convention pledge.
But, the solitary fight with Wike received a new twist immediately after Atiku left Ibadan on Wednesday as Ogun, Osun, and Ondo states declared their support for Ayu in separate press releases.
The PDP leadership in Osun State in a signed and released statement by the State Caretaker Chairman of the party, Dr. Akindele Adekunle in Osogbo late Thursday distanced itself from Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde’s request for Dr. Iyorchia Ayu to step down as the party’s national chairman, said, the Osun state chapter of the party disagrees with Oyo state governor, Makinde and his allie’s continuous statement and position that Ayu must resign.
The party noted that there was no meeting where the South-West agreed to call for the removal of Ayu and noted that “the call is not a mainstream position of the party in the zone”.
It will be recalled that, gov. Makinde, again last Wednesday, at the South-West stakeholders’ meeting with the presidential candidate of the party, Atiku Abubakar, in Ibadan, called for the resignation of Ayu, saying it was necessary if the party must move forward.
The Osun PDP thereafter released a statement to counter the Oyo state governor’s stand, “The leadership of the PDP in Osun State wishes to affirm that we are not part of any revolt against the national leadership of the PDP. We remain guided and loyal to the PDP Constitution which stipulates processes for leadership election and removal. As a party with a democratic tradition, we see no justification for any anti-democratic agitation to torpedo the ship of the party at this very critical stage of national campaigns and pre-election preparation.
“Dr. Ayu, who was duly elected at a properly constituted National Convention with a four-year mandate also has the vote of confidence of the party’s National Executive Committee, the party’s highest decision-making organ. Our party Chairman is a principled leader whose integrity is second to none. We consequently disagree with any move to undermine the office of the National Chairman.”
Commenting on Atiku for his stance, the Osun chapter of the PDP said, “We commend the presidential candidate of the PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, for his steadfastness and commitment to upholding the party’s constitution. His response in support of the party’s constitution reassured all that the PDP is a party of law and due process.”
“We also use this medium too, on behalf of our teeming members, to apologize to members of the PDP National Working Committee and other leaders over the embarrassment the resignation call may have caused them. The occasion was a solemn one where party loyalists gathered to host our national leaders and demonstrate our preparedness for the task ahead. It was not an avenue for factional rhetoric.
“While reaffirming our passion to mobilize for the PDP’s victory in the forthcoming general election, we restate our resolve to embrace all that is constitutional, unifying, and contributory to the success of the party and its leadership. We stand to be counted all the time as agents of electoral success without tolerance for estranging antics,” the statement concluded.
The Ogun State chapter yesterday joined the fray on the side of Ayu, saying calls for his resignation now were ill-timed.
Publicity Secretary, Akinloye Bankole, dissociated the chapter from Makinde’s pronouncement and declared that “there was no prior meeting or agreement relating to such pronouncement.”
“Ogun PDP strongly insists that the sanctity of the party constitution cannot be slaughtered on the altar of narrow individuals’ whims and caprices,” Bankole pointed out.
The Ondo State PDP in a statement through its Publicity Secretary, Kennedy Ikantu Peretti, said it was not a party to the plot to remove Ayu from the office being championed in the zone by Makinde and Mimiko as the priority of the party in the state is to ensure victory for the PDP in the next election.
“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Ondo State Chapter is committed to victory at the general elections in 2023,” he said.
He added: “Against this background, Ondo State PDP aligns itself completely with the 97th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting Resolutions which passed a vote of confidence on Senator Iyorchia Ayu as National Chairman and the National Working Committee (NWC) of our great party.
“We unconditionally support the presidential candidate of our party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, who possesses the experience and capacity to lead Nigeria to the destination of our dreams. Our focus and priority at this critical time is victory at the polls. And we ensure it all our energies to ensuring victory.”
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