2023 Election: Chimaroke Blames Atiku, Ayu For Party Crisis

Former governor of Enugu State, Chimaroke Nnamani – wanted by FBI – has said Atiku and Ayu should be blamed for the crisis rocking the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

 

NewsOnline reports that Chimaroke said his support for the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, was a result of political manipulation from the PDP presidential candidate and the national chairman, Atiku and Ayu respectively.

 

Chimaroke – whom U.S. court ordered the FBI to seize about $1 million stolen by him as part of massive looting of public funds he looted at the tail end of rule as Enugu State governor – said he stands for equity and justice for Southern Nigeria which deserves to produce the president of the country after Buhari’s tenure.

 

Chimaroke said, ”Conscious of the need to share and rotate key political offices among the diverse people of our country, the PDP constitution clearly stated that it shall adhere at all times to the policy of the rotation and zoning of the party and public elective offices in pursuance of the principle of equity, justice and fairness.

 

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“Even when the PDP national Chairman Iyorchia Ayu made a firm commitment to step down should a Northerner emerge as presidential candidate for 2023 election, the leadership jettisoned the constitutional provision and turned the logic upside down.

 

“Recalled that the PDP in 2019 allowed the North to contest the primaries for the presidency in Port Harcourt, Rivers in which Atiku Abubakar clinched the ticket and contested the election.

 

“It was expected that in 2023, the PDP in a corresponding manner allows the South to contest for the plum position, but the party in its decision open the contest for both the Northern and Southern aspirants.

 

“In a twist of events and political maneuvering Atiku Abubakar got the ticket again.”

 

Nnamani added that “the outcome of the presidential primaries infuriated southern PDP faithful including the G.5 Governors who insist on respecting the North/ South rotation principle.”

 

“Having critically examined the situation,” he said, “I found Bola Tinubu as the preferred candidate from the south to foot the bill in 2023.”

 

The former Enugu State governor who is seeking re-election to the senate for the people of Enugu East senatorial district under the PDP was suspended by the PDP national leadership fo anti-party activities.