The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Iyiochia Ayu, received a confidence vote on Thursday after weeks of speculation about whether or not he should retain his seat.
But the decision did not go well with Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, who insisted that Ayu must step down. The party’s presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and Governor Wike have been at loggerheads over the agitation for Ayu’s removal as the party’s chairman.
The Rivers governor and those sympathetic to his cause are aggrieved by their perceived marginalization within the party.
However, the party’s National Executive Committee, NEC, passed a motion to save Ayu at its 97th meeting in Abuja yesterday. The NEC is made up of all the party organs.
This was a sequel to a motion by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Mr Ndudi Elumelu.
After expressing gratitude to the Ayu-led National Working Committee, NWC, for steering the party in the right direction since taking office, Elumelu said, “You (Ayu) have shown maturity. Nigerians are suffering today, and the PDP is the only solution. That is why the PDP needs to unite.
“We must learn to forgive one another. All of us cannot be chairman or presidential candidates. But together we can lead. If only we can be patient, we can lead.
“National cake of Aso Villa is too much for all Nigerians. And this cake means creating the necessary infrastructure for Nigerians, not making fake promises like the APC.
“A lot has gone wrong. Let us put behind the anger and move forward. It is the devil that is trying to stop us from winning because they know that in the spiritual realm, we have won.
“We can never be distracted. We must talk to our people to collect their PVCs.
“On behalf of my colleagues, we have decided that because the NWC has tremendously performed, our governors are our pride, forget what you are reading. “They are united. I believe they will deliver their states for PDP in 2023. Let me make a motion. I move that a vote of confidence be put before the NWC for their doggedness, forthrightness, and professionalism, especially in giving us Osun State and I believe they will give us the Villa in 2023.”
A party chieftain from Kwara State, Mr Ishola Balogun, seconded the motion after he was recognized to do so.
Disagreements normal in politics — Ayu
Earlier, Ayu expressed gratitude to members of the party for their support.
He also noted that disagreements between party members were normal, adding that what mattered was not such disagreements but how they were resolved.
His words: “Despite all impressions being created, even in the families, sometimes you have family disagreements. I think this party is famous for settling disagreements and going on to win elections in the past. This time is not an exception.
“I am happy that the majority of people are interested in our party. So, because we disagree among ourselves within our capacity, we have done it before and I believe we will do it again.”
