Oyo State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde has reiterated the demand of some top members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP that the National Chairman of the party, Iyiocha Ayu must resign to sustain peace.
Makinde made this demand on Wednesday, during the interactive session of the PDP Presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar with south west stakeholders.
According to him, the stand of the Southwest PDP is that the National Chairman of the party must step down for fairness and equity sake and that there are still a lot of issues to resolve in the party before the general election.
“If we want to unify Nigeria, we must unify PDP first. If we want a government of national unity, it must reflect in PDP, if we want to restructure in Nigeria, we must restructure PDP first.
“Our presidential candidate is from Northeast, our National Chairman is from North Central, the Director General of Atiku campaign, Aminu Tambuwa is from the Northwest, so the PDP National Chairman should step down” he said.
The Presidential Candidate of People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubarkar in his response said that Ayu’s resignation must be done in accordance with the party constitution, rules, regulations and practice.
“We cannot do anything outside our Constitution except it is amended. We cannot do anything unless the laws are amended, Ayu must go through our constitution, rules, regulations, and our practice, otherwise, we cannot give the kind of leadership Nigerians want.”
“Atiku urged PDP not to allow the issue to derail them from winning the next elections, adding that “it is possible, it is achievable, we have done it before and we have started doing it.”
Meanwhile, the PDP Deputy National Chairman (North), Umar Damagum, who spoke on Ayu’s behalf, urged members to commit themselves and work diligently for the PDP victory in 2023.
Dignitraries at the meeting include: Governors Makinde, Bala Mohammad (Bauchi); Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto); Osun Governor-elect, Sen Ademola Adeleke; PDP governorship candidates; ex Ondo Governor Olusegun Mimiko; Ex Osun Governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola; ex- Ekiti Governor, Ayo Fayose; Amb Taofek Arapaja, Sen Dino Melaye and Chief Raymond Dokpesi among others.
