The national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Iyorchia Ayu, has said he was duly elected to serve a tenure of four years, saying he cannot resign before his first term in office.
Ayu said those clamouring for his resignation were not around when they struggled to form the party.
The PDP chairman, in an interview with BBC Hausa, said those calling him to resign his position were children during the formation of the PDP.
“When we started PDP, these children were not around. They are children who do not know why we formed the party. We will not allow any individual to destabilise our party,” he said.
It would be recalled that Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and his associates demanded that Ayu must resign as part of conditions to campaign for the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, ahead of the 2023 general election.
Wike and his supporters said it was unfair for the party’s chairman and its presidential flagbearer to hail from the North, hence their insistence on Ayu’s resignation.
Ayu, however, said he was not bothered by the call for his resignation because he was elected to serve a four-year tenure.
“I was voted as PDP Chairman for a four-year tenure and I’m yet to complete a year. Atiku’s victory doesn’t affect the chairman’s position. I won my election based on our party’s constitution.
“I didn’t commit any offense I’m only reforming the party so I’m not bothered with all the noises. I know I’m doing my work and I didn’t steal any money so I see no reason for all these talks,” the PDP chairman added.