South West PDP Insists Ayu Must Resign As National Chairman, As Atiku Visits Ibadan

By Ayodele Oni

The Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) in the South West has called for the resignation of the National Chairman of the PDP, Senator Iyorchia Ayu.

Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde, spoke on behalf of the PDP South-West region at a meeting with the Presidential candidate of the party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in Ibadan on Wednesday.

Makinde said, “Eight years of the ruling All Progressive Congress, (APC) has left us sharply divided. The issue is we must practice what we preach. If we want to unify Nigeria, we must unify PDP first.

“If we want to restructure Nigeria, we must have the willingness to bring inclusivity to PDP. Do we have the capacity? The answer is resounding yes.”

Governor Seyi Makinde used the occasion of the visit of Atiku to Ibadan for consultations with stakeholders in the south west to reiterate the demand of his colleague from Rivers State, Nyesom Wike that the National Chairman of the Party, Dr Iyorchia Ayu resign from the office since another northerner has emerged as the Presidential Candidate of the party.

According to him, the demand was to pave way for justice and equity among the regions of the country.

At the South-West Zonal Meeting of the PDP with Atiku,Governor Makinde was emphatic that the resignation of Ayu would greatly help the fortune of the party in next year’s election.

 “Our party wants to rescue Nigeria and our candidate is a unifier. He wants to restructure Nigeria.

“The message from the south-west PDP is that the south-west is asking that the national working committee (NWC) of the PDP should be restructured.

“We are asking the national chairman to step down so that the south will be fully included. That is the message.”

The meeting was attended by the the Vice presidential candidate, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa and other top hierarchy of the party, such as Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, Sen. Dino Melaye; Alhaji Babangida Aliyu; former Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State; Governorship Candidate of Ogun State, Ladi Adebutu, Ademola Adeleke, the governor-elect of Osun State, former minister of State, FCT, Mrs Jumoke Akinjide, Senator Abiodun Olujimi, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, and a host it others.

PDP South west stakeholders including state chairmen from the zone had earlier in the week met in Ibadan to prepare the agenda and tone of the meeting with Atiku, who had earlier been hosted by Lagos chapter of the party.