Atiku, Wike Rekindle Rivalry Over Ayu’s Successor

• A crisis is brewing in the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the succession of the suspended National Chairman, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, with internal divisions intensifying between supporters of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and those of the suspended Ayu
• If the Atiku group does not act quickly, Wike’s allies, supported by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), may impose a national chairman on the PDP, potentially leading to the beginning of the end for the party

A new crisis is brewing in the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over who will succeed the party’s suspended National Chairman, Dr Iyorchia Ayu.

Since Ayu’s suspension in March 2023, after the PDP lost the presidential election, the deputy national chairman, North, Ambassador Umar Damagum, has been acting as the party’s leader.

However, efforts to replace Ayu have exacerbated internal divisions, with allies of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and those of the suspended Ayu battling to ensure that one of their own takes over.

Meanwhile, Ayu, the suspended chairman, is from the North Central zone, and party leaders and members alike agree that the zone will continue to produce the national chairman.

According to a party source, if the Atiku group does not act quickly, Wike’s allies, who are supported by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), may impose a national chairman on the party, and “that will be the beginning of the end of the PDP.”

According to reports, the development may have prompted the stakeholders’ meeting organised by loyalists of the former vice president and some governors in Abuja over the weekend.

A source said:

Ego by party leaders was responsible for defeat at the polls. Ayu did not really add any value to the party, but Atiku sacrificed the G5 Governors for him.

As it stands today, Wike still has an impact on the PDP. Forget what people are saying; the minority leaderships in the House of Representatives and Senate are with Wike. Some people will tell you that it is not true. But what they cannot tell you is whether those people nominated by the party. No; they are loyal to Wike.

He (Wike) supported Godswill Akpabio and Tajudeen Abbas and both of them are now in charge of the National Assembly, and the people that PDP supported did not win. What did that tell you? If Wike becomes a minister under Tinubu; if care is not taken, he can destroy the PDP.

His people in the PDP are projecting Professor Jerry Gana to be the next national chairman of the party. Saraki is the candidate of the Atiku’s camp and they have not even settled themselves yet. They are still talking and holding meetings.

“Let me even tell you how the situation favours those rooting for Jerry Gana,” the confidential source continued. The position of national chairman is for the North Central, and the executive level of the zone will decide who will take the position after Ayu, assuming they follow the rules.

In the North Central, there is zone A and B. Zone A is Benue, Nasarawa and Plateau states. Zone B is FCT, Niger, Kogi and Kwara.

Kogi has produced the national chairman before in Ahmadu Ali, Kwara produced Kawu Baraje, and Benue produced Iyorchia Ayu, Barnabas Gemade and Audu Ogbe. In Plateau, there was Solomon Lar. Ayu is from zone A. Some people are insisting that zone B should produce the next chairman to complete the tenure. Also, Kamaldeen Ajibade, the national legal adviser, is from Kwara; a minus for Saraki.

We’ll inform Nigerians at the right time.

When asked about the development in the party and what the leadership is doing to get a replacement for Ayu, the national publicity secretary of the party, Debo Ologunagba, said the party is focused on other issues now and will inform Nigerians at the appropriate time.

He said:

Our party is focused on what we need to be focused on right now. We are taking one thing at a time. When we get particular information, we will let Nigerians know through the media and our stakeholders too.

Ologunagba also disclosed that reports that the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party will meet this week were incorrect as nothing of such has been slated.