A former deputy national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Olabode George, has explained why the main opposition party cannot campaign against the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in the South-West.
George said the PDP has nothing to campaign against Tinubu in the region because PDP did not give the South-West a national role in the party’s structure.
He stated this on Friday while speaking on The Morning Show on Arise TV.
The PDP chieftain, who did not directly mention Tinubu’s name in his remarks, stated this a day after calling for the resignation of the party’s National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu.
His words, “But how do I go on the campaign trip in the South-West and tell the people that look, we are ready and you must vote for our candidate? We must realise that the opposition party has its own presidential candidate from the South-West and he (Tinubu) will tell them (voters) I have the presidential ticket, what does the PDP have on its ticket for South-West?
“Let’s assume the south has the presidential ticket, vice presidential ticket and chairmanship position, how will our PDP brothers from the north take it? Will they be happy? All I am saying is to ensure justice and fairness and if they say they don’t want it, history will be on the side of the truth.
“And if at this age I can’t tell the truth, then what am I doing in politics? It is not a matter of forcing Ayu out. Remember, Ayu himself stated and I quote him: “If the presidential candidate emerges from the north, he will resign as the chairman of the party to allow the balancing”. We are simply just saying “let us be mindful and don’t let us overdrive this,” he said.
KEMI FILANI NEWS had reported that George had said the party’s Presidential Candidate and National Chairman cannot come from the same zone; hence, Ayu must resign as the National Chairman.