Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers, says Iyorchia Ayu, national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), does not have the power to stop any member of the party from contesting elections.
Wike said this on Sunday in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers state.
The Rivers governor was responding to a recent comment made by Ayu in Gboko, Benue state.
While addressing his supporters on Friday, Ayu had said he could have stopped the political ambitions of those calling for his resignation.
Some party members demanding Ayu’s resignation are seeking elective offices in the 2023 general election.
“I have been silent over all the things you are hearing against me because I don’t want any crack in the party I belong to in my state,” Ayu had said.
“I have the powers to say ‘you and you will not go anywhere’, because I will insist that I must sign before you go anywhere.
“But I have signed for all candidates produced by the PDP to go ahead in their dreams — whether I like it or not, I signed.”
Reacting on Sunday, Wike said he challenges Ayu to stop any party member from contesting in the 2023 elections.
“I dare the national chairman of PDP to stop any contestant for the election. I dare Ayu to stop any PDP candidate from contesting the election. He doesn’t have the power,” Wike said.
