You were a child when we formed PDP” – Ayu fires back at Wike, maintains decision not to step down

Despite its high-profile billing, it appears the London meeting between presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar and the Wike-led faction of the PDP may have done little to quell the fire raging in the party as its National Chairman, Sen. Iyorchia Ayu, has denied reports of his impending resignation in accordance with the reconciliation demand of the Rivers State Governor.

Governor Wike has in the past few months rained the fire of his criticism on the candidate and the chairman over the conduct of the primary process that produced the former, alleging bias and collusion.

To cease fire and return to the presidential campaign train fold, Wike demanded the resignation of Chairman Ayu on the basis that his continued stay, after the emergence of a northern candidate, offends the regional balance that informs the party’s leadership composition.

Wike was said to have insisted on this demand at the London meeting, with indications that a desperate and increasingly forlorn Atiku gave in to it. This prompted reports of possible replacements that made the rounds earlier this week with names of possible replacement touted.

However, Ayu has dismissed talks of his resignation with scathing criticism of Governor Wike and his team of ‘rebels’, including serving governors, whom he berated as “noise-making children”.

Speaking on BBC Hausa in an interview, Ayu said: “I didn’t commit any offence; I’m only reforming the party so I’m not bothered with all the noises. I know I’m doing my work and I didn’t steal any money so I see no reason for all these talks. When we started PDP, these children were not around. They are children who do not know why we formed the party. We will not allow any individual to destabilize our party.”

His comments and refusal to step down sources said might have dampened the hopes of party faithful who believed that the meeting in London would help unite the party and maintain its focus on securing victory at the polls next year.

Despite the Chairman’s reductive description of Wike and the governors in his fold, the Rivers Governor from indication remains an influential figure within the party. Recent projections have shown his support to be crucial to the party’s victory chances next year.

“Even if Atiku wishes for Ayu to step aside to facilitate peace, it remains unclear how that could be implemented or satisfy Wike’s demand of a return of the position to the southern region given the latter’s status as a duly elected chairman and a clause in the party’s constitution mandating resigning officials to hand over to a replacement from their region”.

What is clear, however, is that the crisis has heavily distracted the PDP from its primarily electoral objective and could cause a damaging implosion that would pave the way for an easy rout by the ruling APC next year.