Allies of Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers state, have demanded the resignation of Iyorchia Ayu, national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
According to TheCable, the allies made the demand when Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the PDP, met with them in an attempt to resolve the rift between him and Wike.
The publication further reported that some members of the PDP national working committee national (NWC) are pushing for a probe of the party’s finances under Ayu’s watch.
Thursday’s meeting, which was also attended by governors Seyi Makinde, Samuel Ortom, and Okezie Ikpeazu, was held at Carlton Hotel in London.
Six PDP governors are thought to be aligned with Wike in his face-off with Atiku who reportedly angered them by saying he did not pick Wike as his running mate because he cannot work with him.
Atiku was accused of being “impolitic”, further worsened by public statements made by former governors Sule Lamido and Babangida Aliyu which Wike’s associates consider “disparaging”.
Lamido described Wike as an “emperor” and said Atiku did not need him to win the presidential election.
Wike and Atiku have been at loggerheads over the outcome of the PDP presidential primary which the latter won in May.
The Rivers State leader contested the election but lost to the former vice president. Wike had accused the party leaders of not following laid down rules in the election held in Abuja.
In the wake of the election, a committee had recommended Wike, among others, to pick as his running mate. But Atiku chose the Delta State governor Ifeanyi Okowa, a move that deepened the crisis.
While explaining the rationale behind his choice, Atiku said Okowa is highly experienced, adding that he consulted widely before picking the former lawmaker.
“He personifies not only the seriousness the current moment represents for our country but also the future that our young people yearn for and also deserve,” Atiku said while unveiling Okowa as running mate in June.
With TheCable report
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