PDP Crisis: Ayu gives condition to step aside

As the search for peace in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) continues, the National Chairman of the party, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, has now given a condition for his resignation if the stakeholders are adamant on his exit.

He says all members of the National Working Committee (NWC) from the South must swap their current positions with those from the North since the PDP Presidential Candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is from the North.

However, Ayu’s proposal has been rejected by many party leaders who fear that their candidates in the NWC will lose their positions and influence.

One of those who stand to lose out if Ayu’s proposal on swapping of positions is accepted is Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike.

His ally, Senator Samuel Anyawu from the South East zone, is the PDP National Secretary and head of the party’s national secretariat.

The Nation gathered that some party leaders have started making a u-turn to prevail on Wike and some governors to allow Ayu remain in office till after the 2023 presidential election.

The party, sources said last night, has also been gripped by fresh tension over alleged plan  by some leaders to appoint Sokoto State Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal as the Director-General of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation.

Tambuwal stepped down for Atiku during the party’s presidential primary and he is being tipped for the office of Senate President if Atiku wins.

Party sources are of the view that appointing Tambuwal, a northerner, as the campaign organisation’s DG at a time some southerners are already complaining about the north’s annexation of the party’s chairmanship, BoT chairmanship, presidential candidate and positions of chief spokespersons for team would not be in the PDP’s best interest.

Although some leaders suggested Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde as DG, there were concerns that combining his own campaign for a second term with that of running the presidential campaign team would be too much of a burden.

Some chieftains of PDP were said to be in favour of Wike as the Presidential Campaign Council DG to “heal wounds” in the party.

Investigation by our correspondent revealed that the crisis of confidence between Atiku and Wike, the fate of Ayu and other NWC officers, the choice of DG, the need for ethno-religious balance in PDP are responsible for the delay in composing the PDP Campaign Council.

It was also learnt that these issues influenced the Board of Trustees decision to prevail on Atiku and Wike to close ranks on Wednesday and Thursday in Abuja.

A member of the BOT, who spoke in confidence, said: “He told us that he was ready to step aside but he should not be isolated.

“He said since the presidential candidate is from the North, the ideal thing is for Northern officers in the NWC to swap positions with their Southern members to guarantee equity, fairness and justice.

“In spite of the fact that Ayu’s agitation is politically plausible, it may disrupt PDP’s zoning formula.

“This is why some of our leaders are saying that Ayu can only leave office when Atiku is elected as President.

“Some of us think Ayu should remain in office till after the elections.

“There are concerns that Ayu might not quit his position if Atiku loses the presidential race. This is also a probability.