The governor of Rivers State, Mr. Nyesom Wike has said that the dissolution of the executive committee of the Ekiti State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would not help the national chairman of the party, Dr Iyorchia Ayu.
Recall that spokesman for the party Mr. Debo Ologunagba announced the dissolution of the Ekiti State executive and the setting up of a caretaker committee headed by Mr. Sadiq Obanoyen in a statement on Friday.
“Following the recent developments in the Ekiti State Chapter of our great party, the national working committee (NWC), after careful deliberations and extensive consultations, on behalf of the national executive committee (NEC) and pursuant to Sections 29(2)(b) and 31(2)(e) of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017), has dissolved the PDP Ekiti State executive committee with immediate effect.
“In its place the NWC, on behalf of NEC has approved the appointment of Ekiti State caretaker committee to run the affairs of the party in the state for a period of three (3) months effective from today Friday, January 20, 2023 and to function pursuant to Section 24(2) of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017).
“The NWC also approved the appointment of Arch. Sadiq Obanoyen as Chairman of the PDP Ekiti State Caretaker Committee,” the statement read.
Reacting to the development, Wike described the dissolution of the Ekiti State executive committee as an act of tyranny and dared Ayu to suspend him and his G-5colleagues.
Speaking at the campaign inauguration by the state PDP campaign council in Bori, Khana local government area on yesterday, Wike said Ayu had drawn the battle line by his action.
He said he and his team would do everything legally possible to challenge the illegal decision.
“Your suspending people will not help you in anyway. The battle line has been fully drawn. As I speak to you, we will do everything legally possible to challenge any decision we know is illegal,” he said.
The governor stated that he was waiting for Ayu to announce the suspension of the G-5 governors.
The G-5, made up of Messrs Wike (Rivers State), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), his own and any other of his friends’ suspension.
“Let me also use this opportunity to say to Iyorchia Ayu and his team, your dissolving Ekiti State Exco will not help you in any way. Your suspending people will not help you in any way. The battle line has been fully drawn. As I speak to you, we will do everything legally possible to challenge any decision we know is illegal.”
“Like I have said, when a man says you will not sleep, he too, will he sleep? Will Ayu sleep? Will those his cohorts sleep? So don’t worry, we have the capacity to pay back. We have the capacity to tell you that enough is enough.
“You are doing what will give you more headaches as far as this election is concerned. We are watching and we are waiting for you to announce more of my friends.
He said the dissolution of the Ekiti State working committee will be challenged in court because there are still members of the PDP who believe in the rule of law and that the party should respect its constitution.
He stressed that Ayu’s resort to tyranny will do more damage to the PDP as far as the 2023 general election is concerned.
He dared Ayu to announce the suspension of the G-5 governors.
“So, don’t think you can threaten people by saying so, so persons have been suspended. We are above that level that you think you can threaten anybody, intimidate anybody with whatever illegal decision you have taken.”
“So, we are waiting for you to announce my own and any other of my friend. Like I have said, when a man says you will not sleep, he too, will he sleep. Will Ayu sleep? Will those his cohorts sleep? So don’t worry, we have the capacity to pay back. We have the capacity to tell you that enough is enough.”
