Atiku Reacts As Wike Supporters Pull Out Of PDP Presidential Campaign

Atiku Reacts As Wike Supporters Pull Out Of PDP Presidential Campaign, Gives Condition For Ayu’s Resignation.

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Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has reacted to the decision of some party stalwarts to pull away from his campaign.

Recall that a group of party chieftains led by the governor of Rivers state, Nyesom Wike had withdrawn participation in the presidential campaign committee of the party for the 2023 elections.

The group’s position was disclosed by a former Deputy National Chairman of the PDP, Olabode George, after hours of meeting, which started Tuesday evening and ended Wednesday morning.

Reacting to the move from the party members, Atiku said he was surprised by their withdrawal because apart from the Rivers chapter, all other states submitted names of people who they wanted in the Presidential Campaign Council.

In a statement on Wednesday, the former vice president reiterated that the national chairman of the party, Iyorchia Ayu will only be removed from his position if the law in the party allows it.

He said, “As a committed democrat and firm believer in the rule of law and democratic tenets, and our party being one set up, organized and regulated by law and our constitution, it is my absolute belief that everything that we do in our party must be done in accordance with, and conformity to, the law and our constitution.

“If Dr. Ayu is to be removed from office, it must be done in accordance with the laws that set out the basis for such removal. In any event, you will all recall that the very body that is empowered by law to initiate this removal from office, has already passed a vote of confidence in him.”

Speaking further, Atiku explained that the nation is currently going through a phase of insecurity, economic meltdown, disunity and mutual mistrust and educational dislocations which should be the point of focus for the time being.

He urged everyone in the party to come together and join him in addressing the ills in the society and turn the country around.

Atiku urged PDP members that have stated their resolve to withdraw from the Presidential Campaign Council to rethink and retrace their steps.

“The above notwithstanding and for the sake of our country, our children, and those yet unborn, we must not, for one minute, shirk our responsibilities to rebuild this beloved country of ours.

“Accordingly, we must forge on with the task and the mandate that we have been bestowed with. It is time, therefore, to move on with the formidable tasks of nation building ahead of us,” he added.