Those calling for the removal of the national chairman of PDP Dr Iyorcha Ayu should rather look at the the larger picture of winning next year election.
Spokesperson of the Atiku Abubakar Presidential Campaign Organisation, Mr. Charles Aniagwu stated this while answering questions on Arise Television yesterday monitored in Asaba, the Delta State capital.
Aniagwu argued that removing Ayu at this critical period will bring electoral problems to the party.
He therefore called on the people of the South West to be patient with the party as issues being raised by stakeholders were being resolved in the interest of the rescue mission.
“If you listened to Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state and other leaders of the party in the South West, they clearly acknowledged that by the grace of God, Atiku will become the next President of Nigeria.
“What does that tell you, it means that we have been able to move the beam from where some persons are reluctant to join the boat to where they have now joined the boat and are now looking at what part of the seat would they take in order for them to sit comfortably.
“So the South West are for PDP and other members have declared full support for Atiku Abubakar but they are saying can we do this?
“I asked the question, does Atiku Abubakar have the power to remove Ayu? No, he doesn’t have that power. And as a man who believes in the rule of law, he is not going to do that.
“Ayu was not appointed, he was elected at a nationalh convention where every leader of the party including those who are not feeling comfortable with him were present.’
“It means that the resignation of the national chairman is not even the main issue but to move the chairmanship position from the north to the south is a very big issue that will alter all other arrangements within the party and we have just five months to a general election.
“So the leadership of the party is pleading with the people who believe that there is need to make that move for the purpose of equity to tarry awhile.
“Once we are able to deal with the big elephant in the house, which is organising to be able to win The general elections, then we can now come back to look at that movement of the chairman to the south,” Aniagwu added.
On the attempt to challenge the use of Bimodal Voter Accreditation System BVAS in court, Aniagwu described the move as unrealistic as BVAS was provided for in the Electoral Act 2022 as amended.
He called on the National Assembly to reject any INEC nominee identified to be card carrying members of any political party to retain the independence and integrity of the electoral umpire.
“The BIVAS is backed by law and by virtue of the Nigeria constitution, INEC is empowered by law to manage elections in the country and the Electoral Act empowers INEC to further prescribe rules guiding to condu doct of elections,” he stated.
