Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has said the removal of Iyorchia Ayu, the national chairman of the party would not bother him if it is done in accordance with the constitution and practices of the party.
He made the assertion in Ibadan on Wednesday in response to a demand by Oyo State governor Seyi Makinde.
“What governor Seyi Makinde is calling for is achievable under the party’s constitution under the party rules and regulations and procedures,” Atiku said.
Makinde, hosting Atiku and his entourage at the party’s South-West stakeholders meeting, restated the call for Ayu’s resignation to enable a southerner to emerge as the leader of the party.
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He argued that such precondition would ensure inclusivity after Atiku, a northerner emerged as the PDP flag bearer.
Desperately seeking electoral success in next year’s elections, the PDP has been pushing to secure the support of a faction of the party led by defeated presidential aspirant and governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike.
Wike, who was overlooked by Atiku for the vice presidential candidate slot, has vehemently opposed the continued stay of Ayu as the party’s chair, arguing that the arrangement was not tenable to southern stakeholders in the party.
Atiku who had rooted staunchly for Ayu now says “I have no problem about anywhere any party member comes from but it must be done in accordance with the party’s constitution or regulations and practices” in response to Governor Makinde at Wednesday’s meeting.
The presidential candidate explained that the party’s constitution must guide whatever changes the people want to make stressing that “is why we cannot do anything outside that constitution unless it is amended.
“We do not say people should not have different views but all views must go through the party’s constitution, rules regulations, and our practices.”
The meeting had in attendance members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party.
