PDP crisis: Ayu has not resigned, he was elected for a 4-year tenure -Aide

By Tunde Opalana

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Iyorchia Ayu has not resigned his position and he has no plan to do so because he was elected to spend four years in office.

His Media Adviser, Simon Imobo- Tswam made the clarification in response to online media report that Ayu has rendered resignation letter.

Imobo- Tswam said “the PDP National Chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu has not resigned and has no plan of resigning. For clarity and emphasis, he was elected for a tenure of four years”.

A statement issued to that effect by Imobo- Tswam reads: “The attention of the PDP National Chairman has been drawn to sponsored stories in the news media today, including THISDAY newspaper and an electronic channel, TVC.

“The stories purport that the PDP National Chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, has resigned. They further add that his purported resignation letter is with ex-Senate President David Mark.

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“We state, with all emphasis, that this story is, in its entirety, false, baseless, reckless, inaccurate, and a complete work of fiction. If there is such a resignation, it exists only in the imagination of those who have made themselves available for hatchet jobs.

“If Dr. Ayu had resigned, he would give his resignation letter to the Deputy Chairman (North); not Sen. Mark. Section 45 (i and ii) of the party’s constitution is clear on this.

“So, where does Distinguished Sen. David Mark come in here, being that he is not even a member of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC)? It appears that those who have been procured to blackmail the national chairman out of office are not even aware of what the party’s constitution says about the matter.

“We are shocked that such reckless, vicious, mischievous and fabricated falsehood can find prime space in the mainstream media.

“But even more shocking is the fact that otherwise respected media houses have made themselves easy platforms for unscrupulous people to peddle falsehood and run smear campaigns, once the fee is right.

“But the fact remains that those who have been procured to write falsehood against the national chairman and those sponsoring same are investing in expensive illusions.

“The national chairman is on a crucial assignment: to lead the PDP on a historic rescue mission, come February 2023. And he will not be deterred or distracted by media terrorism or political blackmail.

“We restate, therefore, that the PDP National Chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, has not resigned and has no plan of resigning. For clarity and emphasis, he was elected for a tenure of four years.

“Sections 45 and 47 of the PDP constitution is clear on the removal and/or resignation of the national chairman. Those who don’t know this should get copies of the party’s constitution for more information on the matter.

“PDP members and the general public are advised to ignore any stories of such a phantom resignation.”

This is as efforts are ongoing to reconcile the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and the Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike.

Representatives of the two main actors at the centre of crisis met later Monday evening in Port- Harcourt after felicitating with a former governor of Rivers State, Dr. Peter Odili who celebrated his 74th birthday.

The two agreed to constitute a bi- lateral committees to iron out differences and fashion out workable agreement ahead of the PDP presidential campaign organisation in September. Such agreements would include terms and conditions from both sides.

Leading Atiku’s negotiation team is the governor of Adamawa State, Rt. Hon. Ahmadu Fintiri while former Information minister, Prof. Jerry Gana heads the Wike team.

The social media was yesterday afternoon awash with story of a purported resignation by Ayu with the writer claiming the national chairman had submitted a letter to that effect to a chieftain of the party and firmer Senate President, Senator David Mark.

This was said to have been in response to the demand by Wike over the weekend, that Ayu’s resignation would be a condition precedent to resolving the crisis.

The resignation letter was said to have been written and submitted to with Senator David Mark before the presidential primary election.

Stakeholders loyal to Wike had in the story demanded David Mark to open up and release the letter to the party, saying that the National Chairman promised to resign from office, if a northerner like himself emerged as PDP presidential candidate in the 2023 general election.

Wike’s supporters urged Atiku to sacrifice Ayu for the crisis to be resolved claiming that the national chairman has no electoral value compared to what he will be missing by not realigning with the Rivers State governor.

Ayu, on the other hand was said to have stuck to his gun demanding that if he should resign, the plot will consume the entire NWC members and for that to happen, there must be a mini- convention.

Recall that the National Publicity Secretary of the party had at the weekend argued that should Ayu be forced to resign because he comes from the north as the presidential candidate, it will not solve the agitation because “the Deputy National Chairman (North), Amb. Ilya Damagum will become acting chairman.

He further argued that, on the other hand, the other option to conduct a mini- convention is not feasible at a time when the presidential campaign is about a month away.

Meanwhile, presidential candidate of the party, Atiku Abubakar on Monday led chieftains of the PDP including former Vice President Namadi Sambo, the Vice Presidential candidate and Governor of Delta State, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri and National Chairman of PDP, Dr Iyorchia Ayu to receive decampees of the All Progressives Congress in Adamawa into the PDP.

Receiving the new members into the PDP at the Ribadu Square in Yola, Ayu said that the rate of decampment from the APC to the PDP is increasing by the day and an indication that the opposition party is waxing stronger.

“It is clear everywhere that the PDP is back. Today, we are here to take in new members into the PDP. Very soon, this venue shall be hosting the President of Nigeria who is your very own son.

“I welcome the new entrants to our party and I therefore hand them over to Governor Fintiri. I urge the governor to continue with his good work in making Adamawa better than he met it,” Ayu said.

Atiku, while addressing the crowd said “I have been serving the people since I joined politics 30 years ago and that is my promise to you all today. I believe that Governor Fintiri has done a good job and that we should join hands to make sure he wins his second term election.”

Speaking on behalf of the supporters and over 160,000 decampees in various electoral wards across the state, Hon. Shuaibu Babbbas, a member of the Adamawa State House of Assembly from Fufore Gurin constituency affirmed their loyalty and commitment to the PDP in its quest to oust the APC and fix the broken state of the country’s socio-economic and political fabrics.

Earlier on arrival at the Yola International Airport where he was received to a rousing welcome, Atiku had proceeded to the palace of the Lamido Adamawa, HRH Aliyu Musdafa on a courtesy visit. He was accompanied by Governor Fintiri, his running mate and governor of Delta State, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, the national chairman of the PDP, Senator Ayu. It is the first time that the presidential standard bearer will be visiting his home state after the presidential primaries election of the PDP.

In his remarks at the Lamido’s palace, Atiku said that his presentation to the Lamido as the presidential candidate of the PDP gives him a sense of nostalgia because his political career would not have attained this mark but for the prayers and support that he enjoys from the Lamido, his palace and the entire state.

“I am an ambassador of this palace, Adamawa State and Nigeria. I am appreciative of the reception I received today which is historic and I am promising you that I will represent you and the entire Nigeria well in the assignment ahead of me as your worthy son”.

In his response, the Lamido said that he was pleased and proud to welcome Atiku home after his emergence as the presidential candidate of a major political party.

“Your triumph is not just a victory for this Emirate but the country at large as we continue to provide good leadership. I will implore you to use your experience in the task ahead of you. As a detribalized Nigerian, I am confident of your capacity to lead the nation. Your investment in human capital development is a good example of your contribution to the society. I pray that the Almighty remains with you as you strive to become the next president of this country.”