Less than 72 hours to the national convention of Nigeria’s leading opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), where it would pick its flag-bearer in next year’s presidential election, one of the party’s front-line presidential aspirants who also was a former governor of Anambra State, Mr Peter Obi, has pulled out of the race.
He also resigned his membership of the party.
His resignation was contained in a letter dated 24, and addressed to the party’s National Chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu.
The Director General of the Peter Obi Presidential Campaign Organisation, Dr. Doyin Okupe, made this public after submitting a copy of Obi’s resignation letter to the PDP National Secretariat, Abuja, on Wednesday.
Okupe noted that his principal took the decision following recent happenings within the party.
Obi had in the latter titled: “Resignation From Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Withdrawal from the Presidential Contest,” which he addressed to the PDP National Chairman, Sen. Iyiochia Ayu, said he had already notified the party Chairman at the ward level.
He wrote: “I am writing to intimate you of my resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which was conveyed to the Chairman of Agulu Ward 2. Anaocha LGA Anambra, effective Friday 20 May, 2022. Consequently, am by this letter informing you of my withdrawal for the PDP Presidential Primaries.
“It has been a great honour to contribute to nation-building efforts through our party. Unfortunately, recent developments within our party make it practically impossible to continue participating and making such constructive contributions.
“Our national challenges are deep-seated and require that we each make profound sacrifices towards rescuing our country. My commitment to rescuing Nigeria remains firm, even if the route differs.
“I wish to thank you personally for your graciousness and leadership. I wish you well and best of luck in the service of country.”
Although he gave no reason for his action, it was gathered that the decision of the national body to address the concerns of his supporters in Anambra State before the party’s delegate election was largely responsible.
Though he was silent on his reasons, Obi had in the recent been under pressure to step down from the presidential race.
As reported on May 20 by some newspapers, Okupe had raised the alarm that his principal was being pressurised to back out of the presidential race.
Okupe had in the story titled: “PDP primaries: Peter Obi under pressure to step down- Doyin Okupe,” alerted of alleged plans to force Obi to step down.
He had raised the alarm while speaking in Abuja last Thursday night, when the former presidential aspirant hosted Zonal youth leaders from the 36 states, saying that the move must be resisted.
He had urged the youths to demand that the best hand is given the ticket to reposition Nigeria in 2023.
Obi, who served two terms as Anambra State governor on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), had defected to the PDP in October, 2014.
He had announced the decision during a visit of top members of the PDP in the southeast to his residence in Onitsha.
Chief Okwesilieze Nwodo, a former chairman of PDP, had told Obi that the PDP visitors were there to request him to join them in PDP and “work with us as an insider and no more an outsider”.
“PDP was founded by our own man, Dr. Alex Ekwueme and we started winning 80 per cent in the Southeast zone until such a time when we drew backwards but we believe that with you in our midst, we shall return to our winning spree. I now move a motion requesting you to here and now give us your word,” Nwodo had said.
The then Governor of Abia state, Theodore Orji, said it was not late for Obi to join the PDP and work at the centre for the good of the country. He described Obi as a man of integrity, who came out strongly on issues and would be an asset to the country at the federal level.
“If some of your people do not believe in you; if we do not admire you; if they do not realise your potentials, we gathered here are telling you that Nigerians believe in you and admire you,” Orji said.
“We are here today to discuss the future and progress of the southeast geopolitical zone with our brother Mr. Peter Obi, who was the immediate past governor of Anambra.
“Having reviewed with him the state of the country and how it affects our people, we came to the conclusion that our interest in the country is better served when we remain together as brothers and sister under one party and speak with one voice.
“We all agreed that politics globally is dynamic and changes from time to time. In Nigeria, for example, we have moved from regional parties to regional politics, which requires our people staying together and speaking with one voice. We in the east should do the same in the interest of our people. We therefore appeal to him to join the Peoples Democratic Party since that is the party majority of our people belong to.’’
the then Deputy senate president, Ike Ekweremadu, had recalled that during his time in APGA, Obi extended hands of friendship to everybody that would contribute to the development of Anambra.
He praised Obi for demonstrating leadership and integrity, saying his friendship with the president and commitment to Nigeria prompted them to convince him to join the PDP.
Deputy Speaker then Emeka Ihedioha said the decision to appeal to Obi to join the PDP was “collective”, while secretary to the government of the federation, Senator Pius Anyim, expressed optimism that the forum would convince the ex-governor.
Responding, Obi had expressed “sincere appreciation” for the visit by people he considered “important political leaders from the southeast”.
“I thank you for your continued belief and commitment to the welfare of our people and the progress of our country,” he said.
“I have in the past worked closely with all of you and you know my belief about our zone working together. I assure you that we will continue to work even closer as a team in the interest of our people.
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“Regarding your visit of today, let me assure you that I heard your kind and passionate requests and that your journey would not be in vain but in the best interest of our people.”
He said joining a national party was not about happenings in APGA, but because of “the need to be a competitor and not a spectator” in national affairs.
Obi enjoyed a cordial relationship with ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.
In January, 2014, the national executive committee of APGA had appointed him national leader and chairman of the party’s board of trustees, but he resigned eight months later in August.
APGA had played a major role in shaping the political career of Obi, as Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu, its founder, was actively involved in the electioneering campaign of the former governor, particularly during his second-term bid in 2010.
