Amid calls for the resignation of the national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Iyorchia Ayu for alleged roles in the processes leading to the emergence of Atiku Abubakar and Ifeanyi Okowa as candidates ahead of 2023 election, the party’s State chapters insisted he must stay.
The loyalists of the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike blamed Ayu for his (Wike)’s defeat during the last primary of the party.
They also accused him of aiding the emergence of Okowa as the running mate to Atiku even when many stakeholders rooted for Wike.
The development had polarised the party with Wike loyalists calling and mounting pressure on Ayu to step aside.
However, according to The PUNCH, the party’s State chapters have thrown their weight behind Ayu, insisting he is going nowhere.
They include those of Plateau, Delta, Kaduna, Benue, Ekiti, Katsina, Zamfara, Akwa Ibom, Edo, Gombe and Cross River states.
Few of the chapters from the South argued in favour of a balance of power, where the national chairman of the party would come from the South since the presidential candidate is from the North.
They, however, said the time is not right for such change to take place especially that the party is heading for a critical election.
The chairmen said Ayu’s removal would throw the party into turmoil and undermine it’s fortune in 2023.
