The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) crisis took a new turn on Friday when Nyesom Wike, the governor of Rivers state, revealed some details about what happened within the party. The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has stated that keeping Iyorcha Ayu and Samuel Anyanwu in their positions will harm the PDP's chances of winning in 2023.
In a statement, CUPP Spokesperson Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere urged the party's National Executive Council (NEC) to immediately revoke its choice of Ayu as the party's National Chairman.
He asked the party’s NEC members to quickly show Ayu and the party’s National Secretary, Anyanwu, the way out for the party to be unified ahead of the 2023 general elections.
Ugochinyere accused the two party leaders of carrying out internal anti and divisive activities which have been polarising the party.
He particularly accused them of engaging in falsification and swapping of names of winners of party primaries.
The CUPP spokesperson accused Ayu and Anyanwu of allowing inducement to make them change the name of the winner of Ideato South House of Assembly primaries with an aspirant, who came last in the election.
He further accused the PDP National Secretary and Ayu of working for Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, to ensure that PDP candidates are weakened in Imo State, especially in Ideato North and South Federal Constituency.
Ugochinyere, who is the candidate of PDP for Ideato North and South Federal Constituency in Imo State said, “keeping these two men in office reminds us of the dark days of Ali Modu Sheriff as National Chairman of the PDP.
“I call on the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, to press it on chieftains of the party and Ayu on the need to save the party from further polarisation and loss of our base in the South.
“This can be achieved by ensuring that PDP National Chairman, Senator Ayu quits the party now alongside the National Secretary, Anyanwu.
“Anyanwu is working hard for the Imo State Governor, Uzodinma, on a mission to destroy Imo PDP.
“Alhaji Atiku Abubakar must be careful of sharing information with Ayu and Anyanwu as both still maintain strong ties and contacts with the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu.”