Sir: It is no longer news that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been caught up in crisis following the outcome of the presidential primaries which produced Atiku Abubakar as the candidate. The genesis of the problem could be hinged on the allegation of imbalance in the composition of the leadership positions in favour of the North against the South. This cause of action is spearheaded by Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers State with the support of four other governors and some prominent leaders of the party. Consequently, they have called for and are still insisting that the chairman of the party, Senator Iyorchia Ayu (from the North) must resign for a southerner to take his position.

As such, Wike and his allies comprising of Samuel Ortom, governor of Benue State; Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia; Seyi Makinde of Oyo; Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu; Donald Duke, former governor of Cross Rivers; Olusegun Mimiko, former governor of Ondo; Jonah Jang, former governor of Plateau; and Prof. Jerry Gana to mention but a few, have excused themselves from having anything to do with the presidential campaign until the needful is done. Their adamancy has caused serious concern in the party and efforts are ongoing to see how best they could resolve it.

Though, the crisis is an internal party issue; and I do not have a problem with leaving it at that but this review is informed by the statement made by the chairman during the kick off of the party’s presidential campaign in Uyo that “Nigerians are not interested in the crisis going on in the PDP…”.

1. The allegation of imbalance in the composition of key positions in favour of the north against the south is extremely weighty and capable of pushing us back to the era of politics of north-south dichotomy with grave consequences.

2. The PDP is presently the main opposition party to check on the activities of the government towards encouraging competitiveness and effectiveness of governance as applicable in all modern democracies of the world.

3. There is need to quickly find amicable resolution to the imbroglio to forestalling same from degenerating or escalating into a major crisis because of the party’s national outlook which would make it very easy for crisis within the party to spread across the nook and cranny of the country; and,

4. The party, like others, will provide the electorates with options to make their desired choice of candidates at the polls.

Therefore, the exchanges of derogatory or demeaning statements/remarks going around all over the media and the flying from one country to another in the name of holding crucial meetings are disappointingly unnecessary.

Raymond Oise-Oghaede wrote in from Suru-lere, Lagos.