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A former deputy national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Olabode George, on Friday, opened up on why he is supporting calls for the resignation of the party’s National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu.
He said his support for the call became imperative to ensure balance in the party, adding that such will help the main opposition party convince Nigerians as the right party to vote for during next year’s election.
The elder statesman stated this on Friday while appearing on Arise TV’s The Morning Show. George added that he had been part of the party’s system for a long time and knew what was right for the party.
He said calling for Ayu’s resignation was in line with the constitution, saying the PDP chairman had himself promised to resign from his position if a northerner emerged as the party’s presidential candidate.
“We are saying we are on the disadvantaged side and let us look at it holistically. We want to win this election and the popular saying is he who comes to equity must come with clean hands.
“For us to convince Nigerians, we must also put our house in order and ensure we are structured in a way we can convince Nigerians as the right party to take over in 2023, The PDP constitution is in support of this,” George said.
The PUNCH had on Thursday reported that Gorge during a press conference in Lagos called for Ayu’s resignation while making a case for the position to be filled by a southerner.
According to George, the present arrangement in the party which has the presidential and national chairman positions filled by persons from the north cannot continue to stand.
He said Ayu’s refusal to resign sends a message to members of the PDP in the South that they don’t matter.
“I remember that Dr. Iyorchia Ayu said pointedly that if the Presidential Candidate emerges from the North, he would resign for a new National Chairman to emerge from another zone before the presidential campaign starts.
“The other three positions are futuristic. It is only when we win the elections that we will fill these positions namely: the Senate President, the Speaker and the Secretary to the Federal Government.
“As a result of the need to have inclusiveness, oneness and togetherness, it does not make any political sense for the Presidential Candidate and the National Chairman to come from the same zone. Now, we have a situation in which some elders are saying “it does not matter”. Can we go into the election with Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, from the same zone, leading our National Campaign?
“This will be an affront, an impunity, and an insult to the electorate and party members from the South.
“Dr. Ayu promised openly, before the presidential primary in May, to resign, if the Presidential Candidate emerges from the North. So, why has he refused to honour his words? Why is he reneging? What is driving his reluctance not to resign?
Details later…
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