Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George, five governors of the party and some aggrieved party stalwarts, on Sunday, reiterated calls for the resignation of the party’s National Chairman, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, before peace could return to the former ruling party.
Rising from a closed-door strategic meeting in Ikoyi, Lagos hosted by George, the G5 Governors led by Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State declared that their ‘Integrity Group’ still stands on the position earlier taken in Port Harcourt on the removal of Ayu.
The group, which had been at logger head with the leadership of the main opposition party and its Presidential Candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, however, reiterated that the window for reconciliation in the party remained open.
The Integrity Group governors, including Samuel Ortom of Benue, Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia and Wike, began the call for the sack of Ayu, shortly after the party’s presidential ticket was won by a northerner, Atiku Abubakar.
Addressing newsmen after the closed-door meeting, former Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State, who read the communique of the group after its deliberations, said the group arrived at the decision after a careful review of developments in the party.
“After a careful review of developments in our party, we have decided to stand on the decisions we took in our Port Harcourt meeting.
“And we, hereby, reiterate that the window for reconciliation in our great party, PDP, remains open,” Jang said in his brief comment.
Other PDP leaders at the meeting are former Governors Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo State), Ayo Fayose (Ekiti), Donald Duke (Cross River), Jonah Jang (Plateau).
Also present are former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mr Bello Adoke (SAN); Deputy National Chairman South of the PDP, Mr Taofeek Arapaja; Sen. Nasif Suleiman, Mrs. Nnena Ukeje, Sen. Sandy Onor, Sen. Mao Ohuabunwa, Chief Dan Orbih, Dotun Babayemi, Ali Odefa, among others.
The aggrieved group said there was need for the South to produce the PDP national chairman because the party’s presidential flag-bearer for the 2023 election is from the North.
Also, the governors maintained that they will not participate in the presidential campaign, unless their demands are met.
Before the meeting, Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, told reporters that although G5 is the face of the struggle, there are many leaders backing the Integrity Group.
