Amid PDP crisis, Ayu begins 2-week trip to Europe

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Iyorchia Ayu, will commence a 14-day trip to Europe on Wednesday (today).

The Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the PDP chairman, Simon Imobo-Tswam, made this known via a statement on Tuesday.

Imobo-Tswam, who did not disclose the reason for Ayu’s trip, said the national chairman is expected back in Nigeria by the end of September.

He noted that the party’s Deputy Chairman (North), Amb. Iliya Damagun, will act in Ayu’s place during his trip to Europe.

“Already, the national chairman has communicated the handover to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC),” he said.

It would be recalled that the PDP National Executive Council (NEC) on September 8 passed a vote of confidence in Ayu.

This came after some PDP members called for the resignation of Ayu as the chairman of the party.

A total of 397 members of the NEC including past national chairmen of the party, the immediate past Vice President of the country, Namadi Sambo, the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, among others were accredited for the meeting.

All the 397 members of the NEC present at the meeting voted in support of Ayu to continue as the chairman of the party.

The acting Board of Trustees Chairman and a former Senate President, Adolphus Wabara, had put it to a voice vote after the House Minority Leader moved a motion for members of the committee to continue to have him as the chairman of the party.

The Star

Segun Ojo