PDP Leadership Crisis: Pressure mounts on Ayu to resign, Saraki not interested

In recent reports, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is in a conundrum over the choice of its next national chairman. The lingering leadership crisis that has hit the platform may continue to linger until the fate of its suspended National Chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, is determined. Although pressure is mounting on Ayu to resign as a matter of sacrifice and withdraw his court case, he has kept the party in suspense.  However, ahead of the April 18 meeting of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC), members are faced with two options should Ayu remain adamant. The options are to allow the Deputy National Chairman, Umar Iliya Damagum from Yobe State (Northeast) to continue as acting National Chairman or to pick one of the national chairmanship aspirants from the Northcentral in an acting capacity. Those nursing national chairmanship ambitions from the Northcentral are Senator Gabriel Suswam and Emmanuel Agbo (Benue State), and Ex-Minister Humphrey Aba (Kogi State). Former Senate President Bukola Saraki has told the Northcentral Caucus of the PDP that he was not interested. The camps of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Minister Nyesom Wike will renew their rivalry at the NEC meeting.