PDP Govs and grandees back Wike, pull out from Atiku Campaign
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Two dozen sitting or former Governors, Ministers, federal lawmakers, as well as founding members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are among those who have vowed not to campaign for Atiku Abubakar but he remains defiant.
They met in the country home of Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike in Obio-Akpor and resolved to resign from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) over the refusal of National Chairman Iyorchia Ayu to resign.
They want Ayu to resign for a Southerner to take his place and help balance the power structure in the party dominated by Northerners.
A few hours after they announced their pull out on Wednesday, and despite the huge implications for Atiku, the PDP presidential candidate, he insisted in a riposte that he will not persuade Ayu to keep his promise to resign.
Per reporting by The Nation, the list below of those who attended the meeting and took the decision contains the names of PDP heavyweights North and South who said they will not help Atiku win the Villa except Ayu resigns.
1. Nyesom Wike
2. Bode George
3. Senator Jonah Jang
4. Olusegun Mimiko
5. Ayo Fayose
6. Senator Garkin Lado
7. Chibudum Nwuche
8. Caleb MutFwang
9. Senator Sandey Onor
10. Senator Mao Ohuabunna
11. Dan Orbih
12. David Emmanuel Obugadu
13. Mohammed Maifada
14. Senator Suleiman Nozif
15. Nnenna Elendu Ukeje
16. Jerry Gana
17. Ibrahim Dankwabo
18. Donald Duke
19. Bayo Lawal
20. Ibrahim Shehu-Gusau
21. Senator Olaka Nwogu
22. M D. Adoke
23. Mohammed Jamiu
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The resolution
The PDP grandees made their position known in a resolution read by former Deputy National Chairman (South) Bode George.
“Senator Iyorchia Ayu must resign as the National Chairman of the party for an acting Chairman of the Southern Nigerian extraction to emerge and lead the party on the national campaign.
“Consequently, we resolve not to participate in the campaign council in whatever capacity until the resignation of Dr. Iyorchia Ayu,” George said.
I won’t persuade Ayu to resign, Atiku ripostes Team Wike
“I must reiterate what I have said severally in public and in private; the decision for Dr. Iyorchia Ayu to resign from office is personal to Dr. Ayu and, neither I nor anyone else can make that decision for him,” Atiku reacted in a statement, per Vanguard reporting.
“As to the calls for the removal of Dr. Ayu from office, however, I will state that, as a committed democrat and firm believer in the rule of law and democratic tenets, and our party being one set up, organized and regulated by law and our constitution, it is my absolute belief that everything that we do in our party must be done in accordance with, and conformity to, the law and our constitution.
“If Dr. Ayu is to be removed from office, it must be done in accordance with the laws that set out the basis for such removal.
“In any event, you will all recall that the very body that is empowered by law to initiate this removal from office, has already passed a vote of confidence in him.”
Atiku in May sidelined the PDP constitution, which stipulates that power rotates to the South in this election cycle, and grabbed the presidential candidate.
And it was at his behest the PDP National Executive Council (NEC) passed a vote of confidence in Ayu in September.
