VP slot: More trouble for Okowa as PDP North-East treasurer dumps party

The North-East Zonal Treasurer of the Peoples Democratic Party, Galadima Abba-Itas, has resigned his position and membership of the party.

He said his decision was in response to the “unfair and unjust treatment” done to a former presidential aspirant of the party and Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, during and after the primary of the party.

He said that the eventual choice of Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, as the running mate to the presidential candidate of the PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, which contradicted his political principles and ideologies, further consolidated his decision to resign from the opposition party.

These were contained in a letter he signed dated July 12, 2022, and addressed to the Ward Chairman of the PDP of Itas Ward, in the Itas Gadau Local Government Area of Bauchi State, titled: ‘Letter of Resignation as Member and Zonal Treasurer, North-East,’ and obtained by our correspondent on Tuesday.

Abba-Itas said the development within the PDP showed that the opposition party was not ready to take back power from the ruling All Progressives Congress.

The letter partly read: “I write to tender my resignation as zonal treasurer (North-East) and a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP).

“My resignation was as a result of wide consultations with my teaming supporters, political associates and in response to the unfair and unjust treatment extended to His Excellency, Barrister Nyesom Ezenwo Wike CON, the Executive Governor of Rivers State, during and after the presidential primary convention.

“Equally, the unorthodox selection of His Excellency Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as running mate to the presidential candidate, (which) contradicts my political principles and ideologies, further consolidated my resignation decision.

“As a critical stakeholder, unjust and unfair treatment of founding members posed a great threat to the collective political interest of our leaders and us, thereby necessitated my resignation in protest of the ways things are unfolding in the Party.

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

The letter was received and acknowledged by the PDP chairman of Itas Ward.

It was still unclear, as of the time of filing this report, the party he will be joining. Punch