The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees (BoT) is set to hold an emergency meeting to deliberate on the crisis rocking the party.
Naija News reports that the Governor Nyesom Wike group, that comprises of the governors of Enugu, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; Benue, Samuel Ortom; Oyo, Seyi Makinde, and Abia, Okezie Ikpeazu are insisting that the national chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, must be replaced with a Southerner before they could participate in the PDP presidential campaign.
The decision of the group to pull out of the campaign has raised concerns, with the advisory body mapping out a plan to rescue the campaign of the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
Speaking to The PUNCH, the immediate past BoT chairman, Senator Walid Jibrin, disclosed that members of the board were truly disturbed as the crisis showed no sign of abating.
He said, “There is a (BoT) meeting this week but I don’t know the date yet. What we are interested in is that we must speak with one voice and stay with the party’s plans and objectives to enable us to win the elections in 2023. We must encourage our members to rally other Nigerians to come out and vote for Atiku Abubakar and Ifeanyi Okowa.”
It was gathered that the PDP BoT demand for Ayu’s removal in the interest of the party.
Speaking further, Jibrin slammed the National Working Committee over what he called the “division” in its fold.
“We must not allow division like we are now witnessing in the NWC. All other organs must understand that the party constitution is supreme,” he said.
“Once the NWC members accommodate loopholes in the administration of the party, the PDP is finished.”
Also speaking, a former Minister in the Goodluck Jonathan administration stated that members of the party must be ready to make sacrifices to move the PDP forward.
He said, “We will look at the bigger picture and that picture is what is good for the party. We can’t be going into a major election with our house in disarray. Whatever sacrifice is needed for us to move forward, we will do it but I can’t be categorical so as not to preempt the outcome of the meeting.
“We must not be afraid to speak the truth. We must speak truth to power, though not everybody will like it. Whatever will affect our chances of winning the elections must give way.”
