The camp of the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has made two demands to settle the lingering crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
They insisted on the resignation of the party’s National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu as a condition for backing the presidential candidate of the party, Atiku Abubakar in the 2023 presidential election.
The demand has received support from seven PDP governors, which include Seyi Makinde, Bala Mohammed, Okezie Ikpeazu, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Samuel Ortom, and two others. It was gathered that they have also accepted to be part of the party’s presidential campaign, even though Wike is not interested in the DG of the campaign.
According to a report by The Nation, a source following the power tussle disclosed that the camp demanded to build confidence between the North and the South.
The source said: “After many hours of reviewing the events of the past few months, the two camps tabled their terns to heal wounds in the party ahead of the flag off of the 2023 general election campaign.
“For Wike’s group, it foreclosed dumping of the party, and it has pledged to back the party during the campaign and the poll.
“Although the group said Wike was not interested in being the Director-General of the PDP Campaign Council, it demanded inclusion in the party to build confidence between the North and the South.
“The group insisted that the National Chairman of PDP, Dr Iyorchia Ayu must step aside to be able to fulfil its pledges to support and work for Atiku.
“Apart from asking Ayu to live up to his promise to leave the seat when Northerner emerges as a presidential candidate, the group cited a similar circumstance and how PDP resolved it in the past.
“Wike’s team said when ex-President Goodluck Jonathan emerged the presidential candidate of PDP, the then national chairman, Dr Okwesilieze Nwodo, quit for a Northern candidate, Dr Haliru Mohammed, to lead the party to victory.”
