2023: Crisis hits Plateau PDP after Jang withdraws support for Atiku

The People's Democratic Party (PDP) in Plateau State is embroiled in a crisis following the announcement by a former state governor, Jonah Jang, that he was stepping down from the campaign council of the party's presidential candidate, Atiku Aboubakar.

Mr. Jang, along with other party members loyal to Governor Nyesom Wike, withdrew from Atiku's campaign team on Thursday, following the refusal of the party's national chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, to resign from his post, for pave the way for someone from the south of the country to replace him.

However, soon after Mr. Jang's withdrawal from the campaign board, some stakeholders in the party known as the "Plateau for Atiku Group" disavowed the statement credited to Mr. Jang asking Mr. Ayu to resign.

According to the group, the state section of the party did not authorize Mr. Jang's statement and what he said was his personal opinion.

In a statement signed by its acting secretary, Shedrack Best, the group disagreed with the former governor's position.

“Our former Governor, Senator Jonah David Jang, spoke contrary to the position of the stakeholders and it is time for us to provide some clarification. We dissociate ourselves from the position of our former governor. He did not speak for us or for the party in the state.

“We were taken aback by such remarks and, as men and women loyal to the party, we encourage the peaceful resolution of the impasse and not the actions that will inordinately fuel it. We support the National President and our presidential candidate. Sen Jang is not the face of the party in the state. He is not our spokesperson and he cannot decide for us."

"While we pray for an amicable resolution to the crisis so that the party gets its bearings and prepares for victory, we are not happy that those in a position to offer constructive advice and solutions are aggravating the crisis,” the statement added.

However, Clinton Garuba, Mr Jang's media consultant, described Atiku loyalists as an "unknown" group, saying Jang's decision to step down from the Atiku campaign team was right , and that he did so in the interest of justice, fairness and equity. .

"Senator Jang and genuine party stakeholders are not surprised that such a publication is authored by Professor Shedrack Best, who is still aggrieved and sulky over his defeat in the recently held PDP primaries in the state du Plateau. He must let go of the bitterness against Jang as he is not responsible for his loss, as the stakeholders then agreed that the delegates voted for the contenders and only one winner might emerge,” he said. -he declared.

READ ALSO: PDP Crisis: Group backs Wike and urges Atiku to convince Ayu to quit

“It is unfortunate that the so-called unknown stakeholders are seeking relevance by using Senator Jang's name as a launch avenue. They may continue to support former Vice President Atiku Abubakar without dragging Senator Jang into their journey to infamy.

"Former Governor Jang has decided to go with the group that believes in the truth and is not surprised that this group of "stakeholders" does not agree with the path he has chosen He didn't envision everyone agreeing with him but he works based on his belief that the truth must be told in the interests of the party.

“The call remains that in the interest of the party, Senator Iyorchia Ayu should resign as National Chairman of the PDP. This is the right, just and fair thing to do, to pave the way for the resolution of the crisis and put the party on the path to victory in the presidential elections of 2023,” Mr. Garuba added.

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