Former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose has thrown his weight behind the National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Ayu Iyrochia and the presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
Newsonline reports that the PDP chieftain who was formerly against the presidential candidate also called on the Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike and his Oyo State counterpart, Seyi Makinde to throw away their anger and support the presidential candidate.
Fayose said that the PDP must unite as a family to be able to win the 2023 election to avoid the mistake of the Ekiti governorship election held earlier, stating that the loss of Ekiti governorship election was as a result of internal rivalries in the party.
The ex-governor, who stated this in Ado Ekiti at a PDP stakeholders’ meeting, told the PDP members that the need to work together as a team for the success of the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar; National Assembly; and State House of Assembly candidates in the 2023 general elections could not be overemphasized.
“Therefore, I am appealing to those who are angry to stop being angry. Those who are fighting should stop fighting. Let us face the 2023 elections together and win first. After that, we can resume the fight,” Fayose said.
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Stating that he would never join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), the ex-Ekiti governor who was the first to criticize the election of Atiku, which he said was against the party’s constitution also called on the national leadership of the party to reach out to the aggrieved members to have a united family.
“A lot has been said, but as I have said many times, let me state it here expressly again that I will never join the All Progressives Congress for whatever reason.
“In all the issues we are having as a party, no one has said that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is not our presidential candidate. No one has said too that Dr Ifeanyi Okowa is not our party’s vice presidential candidate.
“Also, we have senatorial, House of Representatives and House of Assembly candidates here. Among them is my biological son, Joju and others who are my political sons and daughters. My interest is that all these candidates should win elections,” Fayose said.
While the calls for the national leadership of the party to work assiduously to bring all aggrieved party members to unity the PDP National Chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, is still outside the country, particularly in Europe.
Ayu’s departure to Europe was communicated by his Special Adviser, Simon Imobo-Tswam, who said the former senate president, Ayu will be out of the country for about two weeks, and will be back at the end of the month.
Simon further disclosed that the Deputy Chairman (North), Amb. Iliya Damagun will act in his place.
Recall that most South-Western PDP state chapters, except Oyo and Lagos, have thrown their weights behind Ayu and Atiku for the 2023 general election.
Among which is the Ogun state PDP chapter which said the call by the governor of Oyo state , Mkinde for the resignation of Ayu in Ibadan, at an interactive session with the presidential candidate, Atiku was ill-timed and constitutional.
The Ogun PDP leaders stated that Ogun state chapter of the Party is convinced that the current demand for the resignation of the party’s National Chairman is ill-timed and dangerous for the well-being of the party especially as the political mobilization and campaigns for 2023 general elections builds up across the nation.
In a statement, the state chapter said, “Ogun PDP strongly insist that the sanctity of the party constitution can not be slaughtered on the altar of narrow individual whims and caprice.
“The party, at this crucial stage and time of its democratic existence requires full concentration to remain focused on its goal of rescuing and repositioning the country for prosperity and abundance. Therefore, all forms of distractions should be jettisoned for the common of all”
The leadership of the party in Ogun State further reiterated their unwavering support and unalloyed commitment to the presidential aspiration of the former Vice President of Nigeria and the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar and the national chairman, Ayu Iyorchia.
