A PDP chieftain who serves on the committee for reconciliation that the Board of Trustees (BoT) established to meet with disgruntled party members, such as Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, has acknowledged that the party’s problem was not properly handled when it first broke out.
The party chieftain, who spoke to reporters under the condition of anonymity, claimed that the BoT had carefully considered the situation and decided that dealing with the Rivers State Governor in a different way would be preferable to firing PDP Chairman Iyorchia Ayu as demanded by the disgruntled party members.
The BoT committee member claims that the committee is prepared to present its findings this weekend and that, based on its recommendations, it is not possible to force Ayu out.
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He stated that it would be bad for the opposition camp, which is attempting to regain power, to remove Ayu from his position prior to the 2023 elections because to the timing, particularly with the start of campaigns.
According to Anaedoonline.ng, the PDP’s internal turmoil started after the presidential primary, which gave former Vice President Abubakar Atiku the party’s nomination.
Even more so when Atiku chose Ifeanyi Okowa, the current governor of Delta State, as his running partner rather than Wike.
One might remember that the previous committee, led by Walid Jibrin, handled the party’s crisis in the past.
In August 2022, a new committee was established with members chosen by the BoT to mediate party rifts.
The Adolphus Wabara-led committee has finished its reconciliation visits, which brought it to Ibadan, Makurdi, Umuahia, Enugu, and Port Harcourt to meet with the governors of Oyo, Benue, Abia, Enugu, and Rivers states, Seyi Makinde, Samuel Ortom, Okezie Ikpeazu, and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, and Wike.
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Before delivering the report, the committee is anticipated to meet with the National Working Committee.
“We have started putting the report together. We hope to get it ready next week (this week). We agreed not to talk to the press about the issue. We are making progress.
“We listened to Wike and I must admit that he has good intentions for the party and our presidential candidate. When we met him, he explained his grievances to us and we almost agreed to everything he said. It is the fault of our leaders. They did not handle it well.
“They ought to have called him and others immediately after the primary and hold meetings with them. We cannot do without him. We need him in our campaign council. He has charisma for campaigns, he has people around him and he also has some governors with him, and the money to spend,” the source told The Newsmen over the weekend.
“But I think it is too late in the day to ask Ayu to go. It is practically not possible. We may have to listen to him and appeal to others like Wike to allow us to manage the situation now because we cannot afford to lose the elections,” he added.
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According to Anaedoonline.ng, Wike and members of his camp have met with Atiku and other party leaders numerous times both inside and outside of Nigeria in an effort to put a stop to the ongoing conflict.
But the problems still exist, as Wike’s supporters further expressed their displeasure by declining to attend the party’s presidential campaign council’s inaugural meeting on September 28.
Ayu’s removal was openly urged by Makinde, but Ortom on Friday ordered the national chairman to resign or beg for his seat if he wanted to keep it.
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