Governor Nyesom Wike has accused the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Iyorchia Ayu of manipulating the party’s primary held in May.
Governor Wike, who has refused to work with the Ayu leadership after losing the PDP’s presidential ticket to former vice President, Atiku Abubakar, insisting that the national chairman resigns for a Southern candidate to take over._
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Wike, who stated at an ongoing media parley, alleged that Ayu played a vital role that was detrimental to other aspirants in the emergence of Atiku as PDP flagbearer.
He said were it not the love he and others in his camp had for the PDP, they could have prevented the PDP convention from holding.
According to him, Ayu called several presidential aspirants to step down for the former vice president during the convention.
“He was calling aspirants to withdraw for Atiku. I was there, Saraki and others were there.
“He manipulated the delegates. There was nothing Ayu did not do to ensure Wike didn’t emerge,” Wike said.
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“Meetings upon meetings were going. Pressures were being mounted on people to step down.
“Even on the night of the convention meetings were going on. That is why we started our convention late.
“Some of the retired generals were involved. Some of the meetings were held in their houses. There is nothing they didn’t do for me to step down.
“Those who know me, know that I would have stopped the convention, even if heaven falls.” He added.
RS Reporters recalls that on Wednesday, Wike’s camp announced its withdrawal from the presidential campaign council of the PDP, insisting that Ayu must resign so a southerner can occupy the position before they can rescind their decision.
This, it said is to ensure balance, justice, and equity in the party, since the presidential candidate of party, Atiku and Ayu comes from the North.
Atiku hails from Adamawa (North-East) while Ayu comes from Benue (North-Central).
Atiku, in his reaction to the decision of the Wike’s camp, said he can not force Ayu to step down, adding that such decision rests solely on the national chairman.
Meanwhile, the PDP on Thursday, September 22, said it will go ahead with its scheduled inauguration of the presidential campaign council on September 28, despite the decision of Wike’s camp to pullout.
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