Governor Nyesom Wike on Saturday insisted that the chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP embezzled N1 billion realised by the party from sales of nomination and expression of interest forms to aspirants on the platform of the party for the 2023 election.
Wike, who is repeating claims that the PDP Chairman is corrupt challenged him to sue him if the claim is not true.
The Rivers State Governor spoke during the flag-off of the PDP state-level campaigns in Port Harcourt, the state capital also accused Ayu of fighting the people of Rivers State.
“Ayu is corrupt. Rivers people are hurt. Ayu, you are fighting corruption, how do you fight corruption? I said you took N1bn. I told you, you took the money we realised from the primaries. Ayu sue me!” Wike said.
“You cannot fight Rivers State and go free,” he added.
Wike had in October accused Ayu of a similar offence but the Benue-born politician said there was nothing of such. Wike has also not provided any proof to back up his allegation.
Wike is leading five governors of PDP now known as the G5 governors who have been demanding that Ayu should step down as the chairman of PDP following the emergence of Atiku Abubakar as the presidential candidate of the party.
The governors want Ayu who is from Northern Nigeria like Atiku to step down for a Southerner to take over his position in line with the zoning principle of the party.
But Ayu who assumed office as PDP Chairman late 2021 has said he will not step down until the end of his four years’ tenure of office.
Atiku is also backing Ayu to remain in office, despite the fact the five governors have refused to be part of his president campaign because of Ayu’s continuous stay in office.
Speaking during the launch of the PDP campaign, Wike in reference to the demand that Ayu must go said the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar must start a government of inclusion and national unity in the party.
He said if Atiku believes in restructuring, and devolution of power and that President Muhammadu Buhari appointed 17 northerners as heads of security chiefs, he should correct it from the party by asking Ayu to step down for a southerner.
The event was attended by Wike and other members of the PDP G5 – Governor Samuel Ortom (Benue), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu). Also, PDP Deputy National Chairman (South), Taofeek Arapaja; and former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose graced the occasion.