This mysterious issure started yesterday when, PDP (people Democratic Party) national chairman “Iyorchia Ayu”, who is the man at the centre of the conflict between the party's presidential flag-bearer, Atiku Abubakar, and the Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, renewed the verbal battle between the two opposing forces in the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), calling those calling for his resignation "children."
In light of the party's internal issues, Ayu has recently come under fire with requests for his resignation coming from many sources. As a condition for resolving the conflict with Atiku and shifting the power balance in the party in favour of the North, the Wike camp had demanded that Ayu resign.
Ayu, though, claimed yesterday in an interview with BBC Hausa that he is unconcerned about calls for his resignation. He declared: saying "I was elected PDP chairman for a four-year term, but I have only served for one year. Even though Atiku is from Benue State, the chairman's position is unaffected by his or her election as flag-bearer or triumph in 2023 because I ran for office and received votes in accordance with our party's constitution.
"I didn't offend anyone. I don't care about the noise since I'm merely reforming the party. I know I'm working hard and that I haven't stolen any money, so I don't understand why there are so many discussions.
"We did not see these kids when we first started the PDP journey. They are young people who have no idea why we started this party. We won't let even one person ruin our party by showing up.
When specifically questioned about the demands for his resignation made by Wike's camp, among other things, he responded, "All that he is doing does not impact me because I know I am fixing the party, and I am doing my work carefully. Since this is our party, the only thing required of us when we get to power in 2023 is to fix the country, give security, and deliver the benefits of democracy.
MEANWHILE, Yesterday in Abuja, Justice A.R. Mohammed of the Federal High Court postponed a lawsuit that asked the court to formally recognise Wike as the PDP's presidential candidate for the 2023 election. After granting Priscilla Eje, the attorney for the respondents, a plea for an extension of time, Justice Mohammed adjourned the case.
Wilfred Okoi, the attorney for the plaintiffs, acknowledged receiving the counterclaims to his original summons and the respondents' demand for an extension of time, but he did not object to the request. As a result, the subject was postponed until a hearing on September 14.
Wike had brought the lawsuit, which was vehemently denied, to contest the results of the party's presidential primary. In court records, Wike named Aminu Tambuwal, the governor of Sokoto State, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the PDP, and Atiku as defendants.
Wike and Newgent Ekamon, a PDP leader, were named as plaintiffs in the lawsuit with the filing number FHC/ABJ/CS/782/2022. In the primary held in May, Wike placed in second place behind Atiku. Tambuwal, who was also a candidate for president, abruptly withdrew in favour of Atiku. In the election's 767 accredited ballots, Atiku received 371 votes, while Nyesom Wike, his closest rival, received 237.
Yesterday, Doyin Okupe, a former presidential adviser, rejected a rumour that Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi had reached an agreement with Atiku Abubakar over the 2023 election. The PDP's running mate for Atiku in the 2019 presidential election was Obi.
Okupe, who stated that the former governor of Anambra State enjoys widespread support from Nigerians, particularly young people, maintained in a statement that Obi cannot be in talks with any other contenders or their parties who are less well-liked.
We also feel that this cheap, self-serving, and distracting propaganda is not coming from the Atiku camp, hence the general public is hereby encouraged to ignore it.
The Obi-dient movement is gaining supporters on an hourly basis, while it is clear that the other parties' political fortunes and support are declining and receding like a lake that has dried up in the sweltering heat of barren desert.