Ahead of the much-anticipated National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Youth Frontier, Austin Okai, said the National chairman of the party must come from the North Central part of Nigeria.
Okai, in a statement shared with journalists in Abuja, said, “We find ourselves at a crossroads, where the very essence of our party, the Peoples Democratic Party, is under threat.”
He said, “We are all witnesses to the recent attempts to undermine the democratic process within our beloved party.
“The position of the National Chairman, a position that rightfully belongs to the North Central region, is now being challenged. Let me be clear: you cannot change the rules of the game in the middle of the game.”
He explained that Chief Solomon Lar was replaced by Barnabas Gemade, Chief Gemade was replaced by Chief Audu Ogbeh, Chief Audu Ogbe was replaced by Chief Ahmadu Ali in December 2004, after which it moved to the South East where Prince Vincent Ogbulafor was elected, who was later replaced by Chief Okwesilieze Nwodo, before moving to the North East where Alhaji Bamanga Tukur to Adamu Muazu, Muazu to Modu Sheriff before court resolution Ahmadu Ali.
The statement read in part, “Ayu was duly elected in a meticulously organized National convention.
“His mandate was given to him by the collective will of the party members, and it is not for any individual, from any corner of our great nation, to swoop in and seize what is rightfully his.
“The principles of democracy dictate that the will of the people must prevail. It is a fundamental tenet of our party, one that we have fought for, bled for, and sacrificed for. We cannot allow it to be trampled upon by the ambitions of a few.
“To those who seek to subvert the will of the people, I say this: you may have power, you may have influence, but you do not have the right to disregard the voice of the party members. You do not have the right to disregard the democratic process that we hold dear.
“But let us not forget that this is not just about one man or one region. This is about the soul of our party. This is about the principles that we hold dear. This is about the future of democracy in our nation.
“So I call upon each and every one of you to stand up and be counted. Stand up for democracy. Stand up for justice. Stand up for the principles that have guided us for so long.
“Together, we will prevail. Together, we will uphold the values that make us who we are. Together, we will ensure that the voice of the people is heard, respected, and honored”.
