The National Chairman of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Iyorchia Ayu, has made it clear that his job in the 2023 elections is to return the party to power instead of some squabbles that are threatening to make him lose focus,
“You may be reading many things and expecting my reaction. If we don’t always talk, it is because we want to maintain and build cohesion in the party.
“We don’t want continuous altercations in the PDP family. Our eyes are on the big picture — winning the 2023 general elections.”
Senator Ayu was reacting to the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, who had last month, accused him of corruption. He spoke when the forum of PDP ex-officio members visited him in Abuja.
Senator Ayu said: “The PDP was not founded to be in opposition. We founded the party to access power and develop the country. And my historic task is to return the party to power. I won’t be chairman forever. For now, my preoccupation is to return the party to power. I did not come to steal. My public service record is there.”
Speaking on the allegation of corruption, the PDP leader said: “I have been a leader of the National Assembly. I have been a minister many times. As a person, I have many faults, but stealing is not one of them. I am conscious of my place in history, and the NWC that I lead is guided by the twin principles of transparency and accountability.”
Governor Nyeson Wike, had told journalists in the Government House in Port Harcourt recently that Senator Ayu collected a bribe of N1 billion from one of PDP presidential aspirants and refused to remit the funds to the party’s coffers.
He also threatened to reveal more if the PDP chairman deny the claim.
There were also allegations that Ayu credited the accounts of members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) with certain amounts of money in a bid to retain his position.
Four members of the NWC returned a total sum of N122.5 million to the PDP account last month.
The party, however, said the funds were part of house allowances given to the party executives.
