The end to the crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, may not be in sight as the National Chairman of the party, Senator Iyorchia Ayu has said his tenure would expire after four years.
It should be recalled that the camp of the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike had given the resignation of Ayu as a condition for the resolution of the crisis that has enveloped the party.
Reacting to news stories in some sections of the Media on Monday that Ayu had resigned his position as National Chairman of the PDP, the Special Adviser on Media & Communication to the National Chairman of the PDP, Simon Imobo-Tswam, stated that Ayu had not resigned and did not have any plan of resigning.
The full text of the statement reads:
“The attention of the PDP National Chairman has been drawn to sponsored stories in the news media today, including THISDAY newspaper and an electronic channel, TVC.
“The stories purport that the PDP National Chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, has resigned. They further add that his purported resignation letter is with ex-Senate President David Mark.
“Our Reaction:
We state, with all emphasis, that this story is, in its entirety, false, baseless, reckless, inaccurate, and a complete work of fiction. If there is such a resignation, it exists only in the imagination of those who have made themselves available for hatchet jobs.
“If Dr. Ayu resigned, he would give his resignation letter to the Deputy Chairman (North); not Sen. Mark. Section 45 (i and ii) of the party’s constitution is clear on this.
“So, where does Distinguished Sen. David Mark come in here, being that he is not even a member of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC)? It appears that even those who have been procured to blackmail the national chairman out of office are not even aware of what the party’s constitution says about the matter.
“We are shocked that such reckless, vicious, mischievous and fabricated falsehood can find prime space in the mainstream media.
“But even more shocking is the fact that otherwise respected media houses have made themselves easy platforms for unscrupulous people to peddle falsehood and run smear campaigns, once the fee is right.
“But the fact remains that those who have been procured to write falsehood against the national chairman and those sponsoring same are investing in expensive illusions.
“The national chairman is on a crucial assignment: to lead the PDP on a historic rescue mission, Come February 2023. And he will not be deterred or distracted by media terrorism or political blackmail.
“We restate, therefore, that the PDP National Chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, has not resigned and has no plan of resigning. For clarity and emphasis, he was elected for a tenure of four years.
“Sections 45 and 47 of the PDP constitution are clear on the removal and/or resignation of the national chairman. Those who don’t know this should get copies of the party’s constitution for more information on the matter.
“PDP members and the general public are advised to ignore any stories of such a phantom resignation.”
