As part of political settlement and rapprochement in the People’s Democrats Party (PDP) following the emergence of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, a Northerner, as the party’s Presidential Candidate for the 2023 poll, former Senate President, Adolphus Wabara, has been named as the Acting Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the country’s main opposition party.
Wabara’s appointment is sequel to the resignation of the BOT Chairman, Sen. Walid Jibrin. Wabara who is from the Southeast bloc, held sway as the presiding officer of the Upper Chamber in the administration of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Jibrin, who disclosed his resignation at the 97th BoT meeting of the party on Thursday in Abuja, said: “I am stepping down as the Chairman of BoT to make it easier for all of us.”
Persecondnews reports that Jibril’s resignation came amid agitation by the Southern caucus of the PDP for the party’s National Chairman, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, to step down for a Southerner, insisting that a chairman cannot emerge from the North where the presidential candidate is from.
Rivers Gov. Nyesome Wike had thrown spanners in the works, calling for Ayu’s resignation to pave way for genuine reconciliation in the party.
The Nasarawa State-born PDP chieftain had earlier complained about the lopsidedness in the party’s hierarchy following the emergence of Atiku as Presidential Candidate.
He had said he was ready to sacrifice his office for peace to reign in the party.
Jibrin said: “I took this decision based on what I said in the past. I said that all we want to make sure of is that Atiku Abubakar becomes the President by all means, and that is why I sincerely decided to step down from the BoT. I discussed this with the candidate and he agreed with me. I am sure if the party wins, I will be given a bigger position.”
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