With just two days to the commence­ment of campaigns for the 2023 gen­eral election, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Sunday said it will kick start work immediately once the Independent National Electoral Com­mission (INEC) lifts the embargo on political campaigns with its national chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, leading the battle.

With the development, Rivers State governor, Nyesom, and his al­lies which include Governors Seyi Makinde of Oyo, Samuel Ortom of Benue and Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia appear to be losing out in the battle to get Ayu out and have another chairman from the South take over his position.

Last week, Wike’s team vowed not to play any role in the PDP Presidential Cam­paign Council and will not support its presidential candi­date, Atiku Abubakar, except Ayu resigns from his position.

Daily Independent also gathered that Northern stake­holders in the PDP, led by Atiku Abubakar, the party’s presidential candidate and Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, who is the in­terim chairman of the Nigeri­an Governors’ Forum (NGF), have resolved that Wike and his allies will not succeed in impos­ing their choice as the party’s national chairman even if Ayu steps down.

A credible source in the par­ty told Daily Independent that leaders of the party agreed that the vote of confidence passed on Ayu by the National Exec­utive Committee (NEC) of the party stands and as such he will lead the battle for the PDP, except if he voluntarily chose to step down.

Speaking further, our source said part of the resolution was that even if Ayu chooses to step down, there is no way a Southerner can assume the position of national chairman as demanded by Wike and his cohorts as the party’s constitu­tion clearly states that when a national chairman steps down, the deputy national chairman from the same region takes over.

On the other hand, Wike and his allies are said to be prop­ping up the deputy national chairman (South), Ambassa­dor Taofeek Arapaja, who is the highest-ranking national offi­cer from the South to take over from Ayu in acting capacity.

When asked if the party can make headway in Rivers, Oyo and other states where Wike and his allies are in charge, our source said, “There is no cause for alarm as that has already been taken care of by the party”.

Our source said, “Every­body agreed that the party leadership has done its best to make peace with the aggrieved leaders. They also commended the party’s presidential candi­date for the series of meetings he has had with Wike and his team in order for peace to reign. But with the campaign set to kick off on September 28, the party has to move on.

“The truth is that the NEC has passed a vote of confidence on Ayu and that should be re­spected. Nobody is bigger than the party. A governor can’t just think he can be controlling the party and install anyone he likes and then remove him if the person is not doing his bidding.

“Even if Ayu voluntarily steps down today, it is not pos­sible for a Southerner to suc­ceed him. If you recall, when the man went on leave few weeks ago, it was the deputy national chairman from the North that he handed over to. The party’s constitution stat­ed it clearly that when there is a vacancy, the man from the same zone as the national chairman will take over. His replacement can’t come from another zone.

“If you also recall, when the former national chairman, Uche Secondus, was removed, Elder Yemi Akinwonmi, who was the deputy national chair­man (South) had to take over despite his health challenges. Everybody respected that because it is what our party’s constitution stated.

“When they are saying Ayu must go despite the vote of con­fidence by NEC, are they saying they are bigger than the party? The truth is that Wike and his group know they don’t have the number to remove Ayu from office. Majority of the stakeholders in the party are solidly behind him. He will lead the party’s campaign and even if he voluntarily steps down, the deputy national chairman from the North will assume the position”, our source said.

Also speaking, Senator Chris Ekpenyong, lawmak­er representing Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial Dis­trict, said Wike’s actions will only strengthen Northerners to vote en masse for Atiku Abu­bakar in the 2023 presidential election.

Speaking with Daily Inde­pendent, Ekpenyong, a former Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State, said Wike is not playing the game the way it should be, adding that PDP’s constitution cannot be jetti­soned because of one man.

According to him, contrary to fears expressed in some quarters that PDP will lose the presidential election because of the refusal of Wike to work with Atiku, he predicted that Atiku will win by a landslide.

“PDP will win the 2023 presidential election and I am predicting that it is going to be landslide. What my broth­er, Wike, is doing will only strengthen the minds of the North to vote for Atiku. Wike is polarising the North and South now and he is making the North to look at us with an evil eye. The worst scenario is that we are in the minority. So, Wike is not playing his game very well.

“Wike is my brother. If he has achieved what he achieved to the glory of God, I will still be happy but that is not how to play the game. The fact that he is in public office doesn’t mean everybody has to bow down for him and then the philosophy of PDP has to be jettisoned be­cause of one man.

oyin44:
Without the southern Ally how can you win ?

Nigerians are 100% correct to say

Atiku is nothing but a huge failure .

oyin44:
Without the southern Ally how can you win ?

Nigerians are 100% correct to say

Atiku is nothing but a huge failure .

oyin44:
Without the southern Ally how can you win ?

Nigerians are 100% correct to say

Atiku is nothing but a huge failure .

Michelle70:
Atiku will surely win.
He may win the north but u see the south, he will get the needed percentage.
Not even Wike can stop Atiku from getting 30-40% of Rivers votes

Penguin2:
Time for Wike to work for his Tinubu in peace

bennybuhari:
So all Southern PDP members are supporting Wike. Are you kidding me?

bennybuhari:
Way to go. No single individual should be bigger than the party. If not that Ayu's hands are not clean, he should have suspended Wike by now

oyin44:
Without the southern Ally how can you win ?

Nigerians are 100% correct to say

Atiku is nothing but a huge failure .

9jahotblog:
let me enlighten you here cos’ you are still novice in the game, in South west region where Tinubu came from, Atiku will win 5 States out of the 6 states in the zone. Especially the Osun State where his wife came from. Besides, Atiku victories start from Osun State and other States in the South West follows. It’s Atiku Time to win and Serve Nigeria people. Pdp government will do well in governance and not the clueless APC government that draw us back in governance. To now destroyed the whole thing, APC effects Muslim-Muslim ticket in the presidential election, No one will votes for the same faith ticket Even in the South West, no one will votes for that. Tinubu tun ma lule piii Lekan siii niiii.

masinga07:

You know what brother. I do get surprise when Tinubu guys think they will win southwest. I still don't know the magic they will use to win in Ekiti and Ondo state where they are predominantly christians. Am from Oyo state myself and have not seen any single evidence to think Tinubu can win. All what PDP have to do is to play religious card and convince the conservative christians why they should not allow Muslim-Muslim to rule this country.

masinga07:

You know what brother. I do get surprise when Tinubu guys think they will win southwest. I still don't know the magic they will use to win in Ekiti and Ondo state where they are predominantly christians. Am from Oyo state myself and have not seen any single evidence to think Tinubu can win. All what PDP have to do is to play religious card and convince the conservative christians why they should not allow Muslim-Muslim to rule this country.