Ayu’s Reign in PDP Has Ended, Says Wike

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

Again, Governor Nyesom Wike has advised the embattled national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Iyorchia Ayu to come to terms with the reality that his reign in the party has come to an end.

The Rivers state governor faulted Ayu’s claim that only the National Executive Committee (NEC) can suspend him from the party.

Governor Wike spoke Tuesday, during the inauguration of the phase one of the Trans-Kalabari Road, performed by  Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State. 

The governor claimed that Dr. Ayu cannot reap from a party, by presiding over its affairs, where he has not sown, securing any electoral victory for it.

“Ayu said nobody can suspend him but today, he has packed out from the national office. We have an acting chairman. I told him he will go whether you like it or not, he will go.

“Those lawyers telling you that the ward has no power to suspend you, that it’s only National Executive Council (NEC), then you don’t understand what is happening. When you came, it was the ward that suspended Uche Secondus, and you went and took office, is it not?”

“So, is it now that you know that it is only NEC that can suspend you? Let me tell you, since they’ve not told you, the court has struck off that section of our constitution that says it’s only NEC can suspend (chairman).  PDP did not even appeal the judgement.

“So, forget it, you are  gone. You are wasting your time. We are ready for the battle. I am not from Benue , but I have interest and that interest is that Ayu must go.”

Governor Wike pointed out that Ayu’s suspension by his ward executive shows that he is not a formidable force and respected political leader who commands loyal followers.

“Look at it, a national chairman, your own ward will be suspending you. Does it not tell you that you are not on ground? Your own ward will be suspending you and you go to television to say only NEC can suspend you.  Stay, wait for NEC, but then know that you’re gone.”

The Rivers State governor noted that Dr. Ayu could not secure winning votes for his preferred candidate in the February 25th presidential election.

This, governor Wike stated, is in addition to electoral failure that greeted Dr. Ayu because he lost his unit, ward, local government and the state to the opposition party.

“Ayu, the man you are supported for president you didn’t give him the vote, he lost. We supported a southern president and we won in our States for equity, justice and fairness.

“A man who lost his unit, a man who lost his ward, a man who lost his local government, a man who lost his State and he is coming to preside over us who won our units, won our wards, won our local governments , won our state, something must be wrong.”

Governor Wike also told Ayu: “You cannot reap where you never sowed. If all of us have lost our States, what will you be chairing.

“You want to use Rivers State to be chairman, we are not party to that. Go and bring your own local government. Here (in Rivers), we won 32 over 32 seats for House of Assembly, Ayu, how many did you win? Here, we won the 3 seats for senate too, Ayu, how many did you win? We won 11 out of the 13 seats for House of Representatives, Ayu, how many did you win?”