13th January, 2022
National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Iyorchia Ayu told Dele Momodu that the party leadership can not help him in his quest to become president.
Ayu told Momodu that party members will determine who emerges as PDP presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections.
The PDP National chairman spoke on Thursday when the Ovation Magazine Chief Executive Officer visited him at the PDP National Secretariat in Abuja where he formally presented his letter of intent to contest the presidential ticket of the party.
Ayu in his address said the PDP has no preferred presidential candidate, noting that the party will provide a level-playing ground for all aspirants.
He said Momodu will only get the party’s backing if he eventually emerges as the flag bearer of the party in the 2023 election.
“For you to run for office, you must have a strong platform but the first responsibility I will charge you to do is to work hard and build a strong party which we can go into battle with.
“For your personal ambition like all other candidates, I wish you well, I wish you the best.
“There will be a level playing ground for all aspirants; we don’t have a special candidate, we don’t have preferred candidate, the party members will decide who will contest any office.
“If at the end of the day, party members vote for you that you are the one they want, the party will stand behind you. You have to go out and work out there among the party members across the country because the party leadership will not do it for you. Our job is to try and provide the necessary mechanism.”
This is Momodu’s second shot at the Nigerian presidency. His first attempt was in 2011, when he ran on the platform of the Labour Party.
He recorded fewer than 60,000 votes.
But now he said he is more prepared to get the votes.