2023: PDP In Pains On Handling Ayade

By Chuks Ekpeneru 

Before his sack as Secretary to  Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal was in a very chummy relationship with Cross Rivers State Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade.

A relationship that most times saw Ayade visit the former SGF regularly in his Maitama-Abuja residence.

Besides Lawal, Ayade was also said to have very good relations with President Muhamadu Buhari. It was perhaps for that reason that his Rivers State counterpart, Nyesom Wike, called him a loyal boy of Buhari “a small boy licking the booth of President Muhammadu Buhari to curry favours.”

At a time it was speculated that it was a matter of time for Ayade to dump his party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the ruling party, All Progressive Congress (APC). That was also fueled by perceptions that he aligned with Senator Ali Modu Sheriff in the crisis that engulfed the party after the 2015 General Election.

Presently, Ayade is in tussle with some founding members of the party, including former Governor Liyel Imoke over control of party structure in the state.

One of the reasons the PDP in the state is in crisis is the rumour that the governor has been discreetly discussing with some top APC members in Abuja on how to defect.

Others say the PDP even at the national has never trusted Ayade, which may lead to the party structure being taken away from him.

This move may backfire as former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode,  threatened to dump the Party with others, if this drastic measure is taken.

Fani-Kayode said: “It would be a big mistake for the NWC of the @OfficialPDPNig to take the party structures in his state away from Ben Ayade, governor of Cross Rivers state, and hand them over to anyone else. If this is done and Ayade leaves the party be rest assured that many of us will leave with him.

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