Nigerians Ask EFCC To Probe PDP Over Dino Melaye’s Statement On Ayu’s Emergence As National Chairman

 

MICHAEL AKINOLA 

Nigerians on social media have asked the anti-graft agency, EFCC, to probe the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, following claims made by the former Federal legislator, who represented Kogi West Senatorial District at the Red Chambers, Senator Dino Melaye, as he warned against the removal of the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Iyorchia Ayu, ahead of the 2023 Presidential election saying that his emergence in the first place cost so much.

 

Senator Melaye, who is the PDP Presidential candidate’s spokesperson, gave the warning while fielding questions from DAILY POST during the 75th birthday celebration of Senator Tunde Ogbeha, said that Ayu’s removal, which is purportedly being championed by the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, will lead to a constitutional crisis in the party.

 

While describing Gov Wike as a very responsible Nigerian, who will soon turn 60, Melaye posited that the emergence of Ayu as PDP National Chairman was backed by PDP Governors including Wike. He said removing Ayu is like committing abortion in PDP before the outcome of the 2023 Presidential election.

Melaye said “I was at the Convention when he made an open promise before Nigerians on national television that whoever emerges as the candidate of the PDP, he will support that person. I still stand on that because he is a man of integrity and I am not seeing him eating his words”.

“So whatever misgiving you see, is as a result of the Primary. It is normal that after any primary, there will be agitations and complaints but these are not elements that are strong enough to divide the party.”

 

“We are not out for a Constitutional crisis. Iyorchia Ayu is a product of all the Governors including Wike. That is why he is a consensus candidate. So asking for Ayu’s removal is uncalled for. Are they saying they didn’t know he was a Northerner before they gave him the consensus candidacy of the party? All the Governors, including Wike, spent their money to make Ayu the National Chairman.

“It’s too late to call for his removal when we have not even conducted an election. But if and when by the grace of God Atiku becomes the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, or if he becomes President-elect, then we can now go back to the negotiation table and then treat the issue of Ayu. But for now, it is very premature and we cannot commit abortion.”

 

EFCC should probe PDP Governors

Reactions have since followed Senator Melaye’s submission as some Nigerians picked holes in his statement.

 

While some felt he spoke the way he did just because he has been accommodated as Alhaji Atiku Abubakar Abubakar’s Campaign spokesperson, while others felt he gave out the Governors roles in the emergence of Iyorchia Ayu as National Chairman of the PDP.

 

A Twitter user, @Adeniran, said, “Dino stated that the PDP Governors including Wike spent their money to make Ayu the National Chairman. Is it from their personal pockets or State funds? EFCC should look into that!”

Yinusa Adams, who carpeted Senator Melaye, said, “Dino should rather have advised Atiku his principal to put the Governors interest first since he accepted that they spent their monies to make Ayu the National Chairman. Or he should tell his principal to placate the Governors by refunding them what they purportedly spent or allow them remove him.

Another reaction, which came from Razaq Onilegbale, called on the anti-graft agency to do their job.

“I don’t think the EFCC should be reminded to do their job. They should be seen to be doing their job whether it’s about the APC, PDP or the other political parties. In this case, if they are not partisan, they should investigate whether the Governors spent their personal monies or State funds at the Convention. That way they will be seen as living up to the responsibilities as backed by the Law of the land.”