PDP Crisis: Atiku says the constitution of the party must guide Ayu’s removal request

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Following the call for Ayu’s resignation, Atiku said that whatever needs to be done must be in tandem with the party’s constitution.

He added that removing the party’s national chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, would not give him sleepless nights if it is done in accordance with the party’s constitution and practices. He made this call 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 Abubakar said.

Seyi Makinde hosted Atiku and his entourage at the party’s South-West stakeholders meeting, where he restated the call for Ayu’s resignation to enable a southerner to emerge as the party’s leader.

He argued that such a precondition would ensure inclusivity after Atiku Abubakar, a northerner, emerged as the PDP flag bearer.

For the party to succeed in next year’s presidential election, it is pushing for the support of a faction of the party led by defeated presidential aspirant and governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike.

Wike, after losing to Atiku in the party’s primaries, was overlooked by him for the vice presidential candidate slot. Ever since, Wike 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.

Abubakar, 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 members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party in attendance. 

Source: gazettengr.com

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