Wike speaks as Ayu steps aside for Damagum

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has expressed satisfaction over the replacement of the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Iyorchia Ayu.

Business247 News had reported on Tuesday that Umar Damagum was announced as Ayu’s replacement in acting capacity.

This comes two days after Ayu was suspended by his ward in Benue State.

Prior to this development, there had been intense calls (since last year) spearheaded by Governor Wike for Ayu to step aside for a Southerner to take over as the Chairman of Nigeria’s main opposition party.

Ayu’s removal as chairman is one of the key demands of party supporters sympathetic to Wike, as a condition for peace to return to the party.

The camp loyal to Wike had demanded that Ayu should step down to re-tilt the balance of power in the party which they claim is favouring the North.

Moments after Ayu’s replacement was made public, Wike celebrated the update during the commissioning of the Trans-Kalabari Road Phase 1, Degema Local Government Area (LGA), Rivers State.

“You see how God works? All those people who were plotting evil against us, they are now the ones suffering it,” the Rivers governor said.

“We have an acting chairman now. I told him (Ayu), ‘You will go. Whether you like it or not, you will go.’ He added.

“Those lawyers telling you that the ward has no power to suspend you that it’s only NEC, then you don’t understand.”