Twist in PDP Crisis, Ayu describes his critics as toddlers when party was formed

2023: Ayu humbles Wike, declares he’s toddler when PDP debut

The embattled National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party(PDP), Iyorchia Ayu, has described those calling for his resignation as toddlers when the PDP was formed before 1999.

Ayu spoke with BBC Hausa Service on Wednesday.

He was reacting to tbe call by a group of governors and former governors of the party, led by Rivers governor, Nyesom Wike, who asked him to step down and allow a southerner take his position.

The governors are unhappy that the zoning arrangement of the PDP had not been followed with both the party’s National Chairman, held by Ayu and the presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, from the Northern part of the country.

The party leaders had also accused Ayu of being a partial and divisive leader.

But in his response, Ayu said he was elected by party members based on the guidelines stipulated by the party. He said party leaders had agreed during the convention that the party would not consider the zone where the party chairman hailed from when electing the presidential candidate.

“I was elected for a tenure of four year., I am even yet to complete a year in the office. The election of Atiku Abubakar as the presidential candidate did not bother the seat of the party chairman. I won the election and it is based on the party’s constitution.

“I did not commit any offence, I am committed to my work, and I don’t bother about the noise going on,” Mr Ayu said.

Ayu also dispelled the fear that the crisis in the party involving Mr Wike may cost the PDP victory in the 2023 general election.

“I co-founded the PDP in Nigeria and some boys who don’t know how we struggled and what we went through can’t cause problems for the party.

“When we started the PDP, we did not know those boys, they are children, they don’t know why we founded the party. We will not agree with one person to come and destroy our party,” Ayu said.