The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party in Osun State has dissociated itself from call by Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State that Dr. Iyorchia Ayu should resign as the PDP National Chairman, saying we disagree with the governor’s statement.
In a statement issued in Osogbo, late Thursday, and signed by the State Caretaker Chairman of the party, Dr. Akindele Adekunle, the party observed that there was no meeting where the South-West agreed to call for the removal of Ayu, noting that “the call is not a mainstream position of the party in the region.
The PUNCH reported that Makinde, had, Wednesday, at the South-West stakeholders’ meeting with the presidential candidate of the party, Atiku Abubakar, in Ibadan, called for the resignation of Ayu, saying it was necessary if the party must move forward.
The statement read, “The leadership of the PDP in Osun State wishes to affirm that we are not part of any revolt against the national leadership of the PDP. We remain guided and loyal to the PDP Constitution which stipulates processes for leadership election and removal. As a party with a democratic tradition, we see no justification for any anti-democratic agitation to torpedo the ship of the party at this very critical stage of national campaigns and pre-election preparation.
“Dr. Ayu, who was duly elected at a properly constituted National Convention with a four-year mandate also has the vote of confidence of the party’s National Executive Committee, the party’s highest decision-making organ. Our party Chairman is a principled leader whose integrity is second to none. We consequently disagree with any move to undermine the office of the National Chairman.”
However, at the Ibadan meeting, Atiku, while responding to Makinde’s call, said that Ayu’s resignation was achievable as long as it followed the party’s constitution.
Commend Atiku for his stance, the Osun chapter of the PDP said, “We commend the presidential candidate of the PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, for his steadfastness and commitment to upholding the party’s constitution. His response in support of the party’s constitution reassured all that the PDP is a party of law and due process.”
“We also use this medium too, on behalf of our teeming members, to apologise to members of the PDP National Working Committee and other leaders over the embarrassment the resignation call may have caused them. The occasion was a solemn one where party loyalists gathered to host our national leaders and demonstrate our preparedness for the task ahead. It was not an avenue for factional rhetoric.
“While reaffirming our passion to mobilise for the PDP’s victory in the forthcoming general election, we restate our resolve to embrace all that is constitutional, unifying, and contributory to the success of the party and its leadership. We stand to be counted all the time as agents of electoral success without tolerance for estranging antics,” the statement concluded.
