By Ben Ogbemudia, Abuja and Oluwayemi Davidson, Warri
Former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Peter Orubebe, and another chieftain of the party from Edo State, Kassim Afegbua have called it quits with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The duo said yesterday that they were quitting the opposition party because of the emergence of a northern candidate, Atiku Abubakar, as the presidential candidate of the party.

Orubebe argued that saying that the process that produced Atiku as the PDP presidential candidate for the 2023 general elections was against the spirit of the party’s constitution.

In a resignation letter he personally signed and addressed to the PDP National Chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, copies of which were sighted by journalists in Warri, Delta State, yesterday, the popular Ijaw-born politician noted with dismay that the emergence of Atiku as the PDP presidential flag bearer at the same time with the party’s national chairman who is from the North.
This, he stated, makes the two topmost positions in the party to be occupied by northerners, “contrary to Section 7.3(c) of the PDP constitution”.

Orubebe while stating that the PDP may not regain power come 2023, however, saluted the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, “for his courage and gallantry at the primaries”.

The ex-minister remarked that posterity would remember Wike for good.
Orubebe’s resignation letter from the PDP read in part, “I write to formally inform you of my resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). This I have communicated to the Chairman of Burutu Ward 3, Burutu local government area, Delta State, effective 20th June, 2022.

“Consequently, I am by this letter intimating you of my total withdrawal from all activities at the ward, local, state and national levels, of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP).”

He added, “I am highly honoured and privileged to have been part of a political party that successfully transformed a pariah nation to one that commanded respect in the comity of nations.
“When we lost the presidential election in 2015, in bewildered circumstances to say the least, it was my belief that the party would use the opposition period to re-strategise with the aim of taking back power at the earliest opportunity.

“However, the present situation in the party does not inspire confidence that the party is ready to regain power in 2023.

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“Against the mood of the nation and in complete disregard to the provisions of the party’s constitution, the party threw the zoning of the presidency open, which created a situation that led to the emergence of a northerner as the party’s Presidential flag bearer, thus making the two topmost positions in the party, after your emergence as the national chairman, to be occupied by northerners, contrary to section 7.3(c) of the party’s constitution.

“I salute and commend the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency, Nyesom Wike, for his efforts and gallantry at the primaries.

“Posterity will be kind to him when the history of the party is written. There are lots to be said, but out of respect for the party, I leave some stories untold at this time. My belief in the sanctity of Nigeria is unshaken and I will continually work for her progress and development, even if it is through another route”.

Also yesterday, Afegbua, dumped the PDP.
Afegbua disclosed this in a letter written to his ward chairman, Abudu Idris.

The letter read, “Dear chairman, let me use this medium to convey to you my resignation from being a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, Ward 5, Awuyemi, Okpella.

“My reason is borne out of my long held and well-publicised position that it is the turn of the southern part of Nigeria to produce the next president, in line with the provisions of Article 7 of the party’s constitution.

“Since the party has jettisoned the provision and manipulated the convention by eliminating zoning, my aspiration as a member is impaired.

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“The same party that eliminated zoning has all of a sudden, settled for a running mate from the south in the person of Senator Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa. I would have thought that having eliminated zoning, the candidate would choose his vice from any part of the country; including the zones of the North.

“This reality presents a hypocritical emanation that can neither stand the true test of justice, fairness and equity nor prospective legal challenges.

“For the above reasons only, I align myself with the considered standpoint of the APC Northern Governors who spoke so eloquently about the need to allow power to rotate to the South, in the true spirit of fairness, equity and justice.

“The considered and patriotic position of the APC Northern Governors remains unassailable, and I wholeheartedly align myself with their position; taking into account the heterogeneous configurations of Nigeria.