The Peoples Democratic Party in Lagos State on Saturday disagreed with Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State on his call for removal of Senator Iyorchia Ayu as the party’s National Chairman.
Governor Makinde and some South West PDP leaders had on Wednesday called for the resignation of Ayu.
They made the call at the zone’s stakeholders meeting with the presidential candidate of the party for the 2023 elections, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
In a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Hakeem Amode, on Saturday, the Lagos State Chapter of the PDP said it distanced itself from the call for Ayu’s removal because of the potential crisis such removal could plunge the party into.
Amode said the chapter believed the PDP had survived as a political party due to adherence to the constitution of the party and its rules and regulations.
He said: “As much as we extolled His Excellency, Engr. Seyi Makinde, as our leader in the southwest, there was no prior meeting where such agreement was reached with the leadership of the party in Lagos State.
“The leadership of the party in Lagos State will like to commend the national leadership of our great party, PDP, in its efforts to rescue the country..
“We appeal to the amiable leadership of our party in the southwest region to work together to return the Peoples Democratic Party to its glorious days in the administration of the southwest region of the country.
“Our focus should be directed mainly to encouraging our teeming members to rally round our candidates vying for House of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate and Governorship positions and ensure they win the elections.”
According to Amode, achieving electoral victory for PDP in Ogun, Lagos, Ekiti, Ondo and Oyo States will register strongly the importance of South West in the affairs of PDP and Nigeria.
He added: “Considering our position as the state in the heart of the coming elections, hosting the APC presidential candidate and being a preferred opposition party to win the election, Lagos State PDP cannot afford a disunited regional leadership.
“We appeal to individuals who view the removal of the National Chairman as a way to resolve to the internal crisis rocking the party to have a rethink and respect for the constitution of the party.
“We should see the need to form a solidly viable alliance that can guarantee our party’s victory in the next general elections.”
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the PDP was hit by crisis after Abubakar emerged the party’s presidential candidate for the 2023 general election.
Some PDP governors and leaders are insisting that for fairness, northern Nigeria should not hold both the party’s presidential ticket and chairmanship position.
Leading in the struggle for resignation of Ayu, who is from the North Central, is Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and other leaders from southern Nigeria.
The call for Ayu’s resignation was strongly made by some South West PDP leaders led by Makinde on Wednesday when Abubakar met with leaders from the zone ahead of the commencement of the 2023 elections campaign on September 28, 2022.
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