As a condition for reconciliation with the resentful governors, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees (BoT) is increasing pressure on Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, the national chairman, to quit, it was learned yesterday.
The advisory council might ask him to step down in favor of a candidate from the South, barring a last-minute change of heart.
Tomorrow in Port-Harcourt, the state capital, the BOT members will also have a meeting with Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike and his group to discuss possibilities for addressing the party’s crisis of confidence.
Last night, Wike came under pressure not to avoid the BoT delegation.
However, it was unclear whether Atiku Abubakar, the front-runner for president, and Ayu would heed the BoT’s counsel.
However, the BoT members have been confined to a series of meetings since the weekend to speak with important party figures, including Ifeanyi Okowa, the governor of Delta State, who is Atiku’s running partner.
Governors Wike, Sam Ortom of Benue, Seyi Makinde of Oyo, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia, and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu met yesterday in Enugu to talk about election-related matters.
Wike hosted a meeting with Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s (LP) presidential candidate, over the weekend to talk politics.
Additionally, according to insiders, Ayu planned to call an urgent meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) to consider the decision of some members to return the funds controversially deposited into their bank accounts by the party.
According to sources, some powerful BoT members gathered last Friday in Abuja and decided to urge Ayu to step away.
According to reports, the impacted officials came to the conclusion that if the lengthy conflict wasn’t handled, the party’s hopes of winning the 2023 presidential election might be in jeopardy.
Five of the 11 PDP governors have been cautioned against by some BoT members.
They claimed that the boycott of Atiku’s election campaign was ominous.
Additionally, it was discovered that several party leaders were concerned about the effects of the PDP leaving the government for an additional four to eight years.
The leaders have to decide between maintaining the PDP national chairman and losing the presidential election or regaining power by surrendering Ayu.
A source at the meeting claims that even though some BoT members urged the party not to buckle under the indiscipline of Wike and five other individuals, the session’s focus was on how to deal with the problem.
The source said: “We were at a crossroads. We knew Wike and others have been contemptuous of our candidate and undermining PDP’s chances, but we need them to win the presidency.
“Our greatest headache is losing the support of five out of 11 PDP governors because we want to retain Ayu.
“The mess over the housing allowance paid to the members of the NWC has created a reputation challenge for the party.
“We resolved to advise Ayu to put the interest of the party above his own by resigning or stepping aside. It is a great sacrifice, but he will remain a hero.
“Some leaders are even suggesting that Ayu can be compensated with the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation if Atiku wins.
“The way we are now, Ayu is the issue in the party and we must address the challenge around him squarely. He has to leave the office for a candidate from the South.”
Another BoT member said: “At our meeting, we made up our minds to go the whole hog to appease Wike and other governors who are aggrieved and other leaders.
“We will send our advisory to all the organs of the party to consider the recommendation dispassionately.
“It is left to these constitutional organs to accept or reject our advisory.”
Another member of the body said: “We have agreed to meet Wike on Tuesday in Port Harcourt to discuss the options we have recommended for peace to reign.
“One of the terms for peace is the total commitment to the campaign of our presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
“We have sent an intermediary to Wike not to shun the BoT team coming to Port Harcourt. So far, he has given us his words.”
It was learnt that the BoT has not been able to resolve the constitutional lacuna that a Northerner must succeed Ayu.
Section 45(1) and (2) of the PDP Constitution says: “If a National Officer of the party is removed or resigns from office, he shall immediately hand over to the National Secretary all records, files and other properties of the party in his or her possession.
“(2) in the case of the National Chairman, he shall hand over to the Deputy National Chairman from his ‘own region/part of the country who shall, without prejudice to Section 47 (6) of this Constitution, act as the National Chairman, pending the election of a replacement.
“In the case of National Secretary, he shall hand over to the Deputy National Secretary. (4) This provision shall apply mutatis mutandis, to other levels of the party structure.”
While Wike’s camp is banking on the replacement of Ayu by the Deputy National Chairman (South), Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja, some party leaders have argued that the lot should fall on the Deputy National Chairman (North), Umar Damagum.
An old BoT member said: “We are constrained by the constitutional provision. But some of our leaders are saying that to allow a Southerner to succeed Ayu, the Deputy National Chairman (North), Umar Damagum, must resign too.
“Wike’s camp may favour the resignation of the Deputy National Chairman (North) too. This may lead to a deeper crisis in the party.”
He added: “Atiku’s fate in the party will now be left in the hands of Wike’s camp, which has produced the National Secretary of the party, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu. It will be dangerous to have the entire party structure under the control of Wike’s group.
“Some of our leaders are also uncomfortable with Arapaja on how he handled the housing allowance matter. They can’t understand why he openly challenged Ayu on the rent stipends.
“This is why BoT members have been consulting on the advisory on Ayu that they are pushing.
“I think Tuesday’s meeting in Port Harcourt may lead to a far-reaching negotiation.”
