PDP crisis: Arapaja, Mimiko tipped as Ayu’s likely replacement

By Tunde Opalana

There seems to be no end in sight to the current crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the forces clamouring for removal of the party’s national chairman have consolidated their demands by insisting that Dr. Iyorchia Ayu must be replaced by a southerner.

Names of the Deputy National Chairman (South), Ambassador Taofeek Oladejo Arapaja and former governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, the Daily Times gathered, top the list of possible replacement.

A large number of members of the Ayu- led National Working Committee (NWC) were said to have switch allegiance to the camp of the Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike and have consented to the insistence by the camp that the National Chairman should resign or be removed.

The pro- Wike team, it was further learnt, agreed at the reconciliation meeting held in Port- Harcourt last Friday to shift ground on some of its demands except the request for Ayu’s removal which it said was not negotiable.

A source at the Wadata Plaza secretariat of the party yesterday told the Daily Times that “with the situation on ground, it is obvious that the national chairman may be on the way out of office and part of the demands by the Wike team is that since the party’s presidential candidate is from the north, Ayu must give way for a southern chairman”.

This position was corroborated by the chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), Senator Walid Jibrin who described as injustice retaining three top party positions in one region of the country.

He reiterated this position yesterday saying “based on my earlier statement that PDP cannot produce presidential candidate, National Chairman, BoT Chairman all from the North ahead of 2023 presidential elections. I still maintain my stand on that statement PDP is a democratic and national party that cater for all Nigerians, it is not sectional but loved by all Nigerians.

“As the PDP BoT Chairman, I must say the truth and nothing but the truth no matter any criticism. I don’t fear anyone but God and true agenda of our party.”

Senator Jibrin said by virtue of his position, he is a member of the party’s National Caucus, NEC and National Convention.

This, the source added, defeated the possibility of the Deputy National Chairman (North), Ambassador Ilya Umar Damagum becoming acting Chairman.

He added that the lot then fall on the Deputy National Chairman (South) Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja who is the highest ranking national officer from the south to step in as chairman in acting capacity.

While the Wike’s camp was said to have agreed to this position, the group it was further learnt, has tipped the former Ondo governor, Dr. Mimiko as a capable alternative to steer the ship of the party pending an agreeable time for a mini- convention to fill vacant positions that may be created by the expected reshuffling of office.

However, the final decision on the ‘Ayu- must- go’ agitation is expected to be taken before weekend by the pro- Wike team who are currently in Europe.

Wike and governors of Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, Enugu State , Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu and that of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde are currently in London, United Kingdom.

Wike and the other governors who landed in Paris, France Sunday met with Makinde who was already there on vacation, while the entire team jetted out to London Tuesday afternoon.

Their meeting, it was gathered is in continuation of talks on the way forward from the current crisis in the party consequent upon the face-off between Wike and PDP presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar.

But, the BoT chairman hinted that reconciliation efforts between the two camps continue and the organ will patiently await the report of the committee and intervene in the larger interest of the PDP.

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Senator Jibrin said: “I still maintain that the BoT is eagerly waiting for the report of the reconciliation committee headed by Governor of Adamawa State and Professor Jerry Gana. Thereafter, the BoT will thoroughly discuss it and inform the public accordingly. No more, no less.

“The BoT will continue discussing with all other aggrieved members of the party including those in states, zones, and nationally. I advise that we should concentrate more on how to win all elective positions in 2023”.