PDP crisis: NWC members divided over Ayu’s resignation

…. Party’s NEC meeting takes final decisions today

….Atiku met southern presidential aspirants behind closed door    …. Wike, others absent

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

Members of the National Working Committee, NWC, of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, met behind closed doors for severally hours yesterday, apparently over the leadership crisis rocking the party.

This is even as the presidential candidate of the party and former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar also met with presidential aspirants of the PDP from the southern part of the country, who contested with him at the May this year’s presidential primaries in Abuja.

Reliable sources within the NWC meeting, which held at the Wadata House headquarters of the party, explained that the crisis rocking the PDP took a new twist, with 15 out of the 19 NWC members of the party demanding the resignation of its National Chairman Dr. Iyorchia Ayu.

The embattled National Chairman presided over the Wednesday’s NWC meeting. 

One of the sources at the meeting said that all pending matters were amicably resolved, including the composition of the membership of the presidential campaign council to be presented to the

National Executive Committee, NEC, members at a meeting today in Abuja, 

until when it got to the issue of Ayu’s continued stay in office.

It was gathered that no formal motion was moved for vote of no confidence on the National Chairman.

According to the source, the National Chairman left the meeting immediately the matter was introduced. 

A meeting, it would be recalled, was held on Tuesday where 15 members signed that Ayu should vacate office. 

The source said, “It was unanimous that he should leave. Only four members are not in support; 15 of us signedg that he should leave.”

However, the National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, dismissed the claim that Ayu was told to leave by the NWC members.

According to Ologunagba, “What I can tell you is that such matter was not raised at the meeting as at the time I was there.

“What we discussed at the meeting was the campaign council, the organogram or the structure and the reconciliation committee. 

“The presidential candidate met with the aspirants and we feel as a party that we have to do something. 

“But about the issue of the National Chairman resigning, such did not come up at the meeting,” Ologunagba stated.

Yesterday’s meeting between Atiku and former presidential aspirants did not however record much turnout as only five of the aspirants attended.

Those present at the meeting, which was held behind closed doors at the Asokoro, Abuja home of Atiku, were Alhaji Hatyatu-Deen Mohammed, Otunba Dele Momodu, Charles Ndukwe, Diana Oliver and Chikwendu Kalu.

The Rivers State Governor, Mr Nyesom Wike, his Sokoto, Akwa Ibom and Bauchi counterparts, as well as former President of the Senate Anyim Pius Anyim, were conspicuously absent.

The meeting was part of the reach out by the presidential candidate to key stakeholders preparatory to the commencement of the campaign.

Atiku had met with PDP governorship candidates and former presiding officers of the House of Representatives.

A crucial meeting of the National Executive Committee, NEC, of the party as well as Board of Trustees, BoT, meeting has been slated to hold today in Abuja.

The NEC meeting of the PDP is expected to take final decision on the various issues discussed by members of its NWC.

As at press time yesterday, a meeting of the National Caucus of the party was on going at the Akwa Ibom Governor’s lodge in Asokoro, Abuja.