South-West PDP Publicity Secretaries Reject Calls For Ayu’s Resignation

‘No Justification’ — South-West PDP Publicity Secretaries Reject Calls For Ayu’s Resignation
Iyorchia Ayu

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) publicity secretaries in the south-west have opposed the calls for the resignation of Iyorchia Ayu, national chairman of the party.

After a meeting in Lagos on Saturday, the party spokespersons for Ondo, Ogun, Ekiti, and Lagos said that there is no “justification” for the demands that Ayu resigns from his position.

Demands for Ayu’s resignation have been coming from a variety of groups over the past few months, particularly from the supporters of Rivers state governor Nyesom Wike.

Seyi Makinde, the governor of Oyo, demanded Ayu’s resignation last week as well, likewise was the former national deputy chairman, Chief Bode George

Makinde made the demand when Atiku Abubakar, the party’s presidential candidate, was present at the PDP south-west stakeholders’ meeting in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo state.

However, in a statement issued after their meeting on Saturday, the party’s publicity secretaries in the south-west said there was no prior meeting where stakeholders in the geo-political zone agreed that Ayu should vacate office.

Also Read: PDP Should Suspend Constitution To Remove Ayu – Bode George

“We do not see any justification for the resignation of our National Chairman, especially at this very critical stage of preparation for elections,” the statement reads.

“Dr Iyorchia Ayu was duly elected at a properly constituted National Convention with a four-year mandate and recently received a vote of confidence of the party’s National Executive Committee, at its 97th meeting in Abuja.

“Our party has championed the sanctity of the PDP Constitution (2017 as amended). We must, therefore, do everything to maintain this sanctity. Any action that undermines the spirit of the party’s constitution at this crucial stage can only be considered a deliberate attempt to sabotage the party’s efforts at winning in the coming general elections.

“We appeal to the leadership of our party in the Southwest region to work together to respect the Constitution of our party because, if we cannot respect our own rules, guidelines and constitution as a party, how will Nigerians trust us to respect the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria when voted into the office.

“The concern of our zonal leaders and their determination to protect the interest of our members against any form of marginalization is deeply appreciated. However, our focus should be directed mainly to encouraging our teeming members to rally around our candidates vying for the Houses of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate and Governorship positions and ensure that they win elections.”

The spokespersons are Hakeem Amode (Lagos), Asiwaju Akinloye (Ogun), Kennedy Peretei (Ondo), and Raphael Adeyanju (Ekiti).

‘No justification’ — south-west PDP publicity secretaries reject calls for Ayu’s resignation