PDP crisis: Atiku considering alternatives after failed reconciliation with Wike and other PDP governors

Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), is thinking of ways to appease Governor Nyesom Wike.

Since finishing second in the party’s primary in May, the Rivers commander has been on the offensive.

Wike has been urging the National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, to resign if the Atiku camp is truly serious about finding a solution to the situation.

The governor disclosed that Atiku had informed him that Ayu would withdraw since it was unjust that the flagbearer and chairman were from the same region hours after the Abuja primaries. But the former Senate President and ex-Minister is still in charge and shows no signs of being prepared to go.

The National Executive Committee (NEC) passed a vote of confidence in him last week, an indication that they are not favorably disposed to Wike’s wish.

An Atiku’s campaign organization spokesman, Charles Aniagwu, announced that sacking Ayu would have deepened the party’s crisis.
The Delta Commissioner for Information, who confirmed that different options are being weighed, fears a forceful exit of Ayu would create a constitutional crisis.

Aniagwu said because the offices were elective, if Ayu leaves and the seat is conceded to the South, the provisions of the PDP constitution would be offended.

He added that if the Chairman and Deputy spots are occupied by the South, the third person in the National Working Committee hierarchy, Samuel Anyanwu (from Imo) is also a Southerner.

“If you decide to bring these two positions to the South, have you also made arrangements to take the National Secretary to the North?” he quipped.
While some party chieftains believe the party should placate Wike, others warn of the legal issues that could emerge and distract the campaign ahead of the general polls.

Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), is thinking of ways to appease Governor Nyesom Wike.

Since finishing second in the party’s primary in May, the Rivers commander has been on the offensive.

Wike has been urging the National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, to resign if the Atiku camp is truly serious about finding a solution to the situation.

The governor disclosed that Atiku had informed him that Ayu would withdraw since it was unjust that the flagbearer and chairman were from the same region hours after the Abuja primaries.

But the former Senate President and ex-Minister is still in charge and shows no signs of being prepared to go.
The National Executive Committee (NEC) passed a vote of confidence in him last week, an indication that they are not favorably disposed to Wike’s wish.

An Atiku Abubakar’s campaign organisation spokesman, Charles Aniagwu stated that sacking Ayu would have deepened the party’s crisis.
The Delta Commissioner for Information, who confirmed that different options are being weighed, fears a forceful exit of Ayu would create a constitutional crisis.

Aniagwu said because the offices were elective, if Ayu leaves and the seat is conceded to the South, the provisions of the PDP constitution would be offended.

He added that if the Chairman and Deputy spots are occupied by the South, the third person in the National Working Committee hierarchy, Samuel Anyanwu (from Imo) is also a Southerner.

“If you decide to bring these two positions to the South, have you also made arrangements to take the National Secretary to the North?” he quipped.
While some party chieftains believe the party should placate Wike, others warn of the legal issues that could emerge and distract the campaign ahead of the general polls.

Wike had already dismissed the resignation of Walid Jibrin as the Board of Trustees (BoT) Chairman.
A source said Bode George, a former Deputy National Chairman (South), was initially considered for the role but “did not accept it”. The governor referred to the BoT as only an advisory body and threatened to launch further attacks if the proper course of action was not taken.

Wike accused Atiku’s camp of arrogance and claimed somebody in the presidency was backing the ambition of the Wazirin Adamawa.
“I will tell Nigerians at the appropriate time… the person in the presidency that is backing them,” he told a group in Rivers.

According to information received by Savid News, some party members want to file lawsuits if Ayu is sacrificed.

However, governors loyal to Wike, including Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Samuel Ortom of Benue State, and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, are not shifting ground.

Makinde has declined an offer to become Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, while Ugwuanyi is likewise unwilling to serve as Presidential Campaign Secretary.

There are rumours that, Aminu Tambuwal, the Sokoto State Governor, who stepped down for Atiku during the primary, will lead the Presidential Campaign.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *