By Iffy.
Following a two weeks getaway, the
National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Iyorchia Ayu, quietly retuned to Nigeria yesterday from Europe.
Ayu’s absence, had been attributed to ill health, though it is also gathered that it was an opportunity to break loose from the pressure being mounted on him by aggrieved PDP chieftains, who called for his immediate resignation ahead of the 2023 presidential election.
Report has it that the returnee PDP boss is displeased as the crisis rocking his party heightened rather than abating. “He is a human being. He is naturally displeased with the condition he met the party,” a close associate said.
Recall weeks earlier, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, amongst others, had prevailed on presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar and other party leaders, to mandate Ayu to vacate his seat, in order to give room for a southern representative to chair the party ahead of the 2023 general elections.
They held that the candidate and national chairman cannot emerge from the same zone, hence the need for the sitting chairman to abdicate the office.
On the other hand, Atiku has insisted this is not a good time to mandate Ayu to step down as members should be focused on the elections, rather matters that are self-serving.
The disagreement which generated tension within the party, leading to the boycott of the unveiling of the party’s presidential campaign council by Wike and four governors, was not the end of it, as fresh scandal, surfaced on Ayu’s return to the country.
It was alleged that certain ‘mysterious’ money, paid into the accounts of some National Working Committee (NWC) members, totalling the sum of N122.4 million, was returned.
The said amount which was transferred after the PDP primaries, was part of the over N10 billion realised by the party from nomination fees paid by aspirants.
Recipients of this largesse include, Deputy National Chairman (South) Taofeek Arapaja, the National Vice Chairman (South), Chief Dan Orbih; the National Vice Chairman (South-West) Olasoji Adagunodo, and National Women Leader, Prof. Stella Affah-Attoe, are among NWC members who returned the controversial money.
Upon this development, officials of the party have tried explaining that the money was given to the beneficiaries as entitlements and not any form of bribe, an explanation that has left many in awe, given that It speaks volume of a PR disaster of the worst possible kind, at the wrong time.
