The crusade for the resignation of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, has polarized Southwest stakeholders.
Oyo State PDP said its position that Ayu should step down has not changed despite a different position being expressed by other state chapters in the zone.
Governor Seyi Makinde had spoken on behalf of the zone at a stakeholders meeting attended by the presidential candidate, Abubakar Atiku, in Ibadan last week. At the meeting, he said Southwest PDP wanted Ayu to resign to pave way for a Southerner. The call, he said, was important to achieve inclusiveness and give members of the party in the South a sense of belonging.
The Oyo PDP Publicity Secretary Akeem Olatunji, who spoke on behalf of the state chairman, Mr Dayo Ogungbenro, told The Nation last night: “The stakeholder meeting has come and gone. The leader of the party, Governor Seyi Makinde has made our position known and nobody controverted it at the venue and it was in the presence of everybody.
“As for us in Oyo State PDP, we have put that behind us. So, since the presidential candidate of the party responded that the request would be looked into, that it is achievable and that he would look into it constitutionally, there is no need of flogging the matter again. What should be of concern to various state chapters, especially in the Southwest is how to deliver their states for PDP in the 2023 election.
“Our chapter stands on the position of the governor. It is commonsensical and will assist us in southern Nigeria. We have moved beyond that and already working on how to ensure our presidential candidate wins. We are already touring wards to mobilize people for the next election. The result of the election will show who loves Atiku most among the states.
“We don’t have an issue with any state chapter all the same.”
