Governor Nyesom Wike has accused erstwhile Peoples Democratic Party’s chair Iyorchia Ayu of having a selfish agenda and using his position to amass wealth.

Whilst speaking to journalists during an interview in the State House in Port Harcourt, Mr Wike said, “Ayu had an agenda. He just came to amass wealth. That was all for him.”

The Rivers governor added, “Have I not said it before? Does he not know? Don’t go there, Ayu knows. Has he not been challenged? Did I not say he was building a university? Where did the money come from?”

The allegations are a continuation of a fierce war of words between a coalition of PDP governors led by Wike and the leadership of the party in the buildup to the 2023 elections.

Mr Ayu did not respond to Peoples Gazette’s calls seeking comments on the allegation.

Wike and the G-5 governors were at the forefront of calls for Mr Ayu to resign as the party’s chairman after former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar emerged as the party’s presidential flag bearer in May 2022.

Mr Ayu was barred from parading himself as the PDP chair by the Benue High Court on March 27, 2023. 

The party subsequently announced its deputy chairman (North), Umar Damagum, as his replacement in an acting capacity.