A former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has threatened to leave the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, if the party structure in Cross River State is taken away from Governor Ben Ayade.

Fani-Kayode said it would be a big mistake for the PDP National Working Committee, NWC, to come to such a conclusion.

According to him, if the party forces Governor Ayade out of its fold, he ((Kayode) will have no option than to leave too.

There is a running battle over who becomes the next Chairman of the PDP in Cross Rivers.

Ayade and some party chieftains, including former governor, deputy governor, National Assembly members, state lawmakers and former elected and appointed party officers are at daggers drawn over who controls the structures ahead of 2023.

While Ayade is backing Alphonsus Eba (a.k.a Okadigbo) for the state chairmanship of PDP, the other aggrieved groups are totally behind the former PDP national publicity secretary and former Commissioner, Venatius Nkem, in the chairmanship race of the party.

And reacting to the situation, Fani-Kayode tweeted:

“It would be a big mistake for the NWC of the @OfficialPDPNig to take the party structures in his state away from Ben Ayaade, Gov. of Cross Rivers state, and hand them over to anyone else. If this is done and Ayaade leaves the party be rest assured that many of us will leave with him.

“You cannot and must not undermine a sitting Governor or attempt to humiliate him in his own state and before his people. Some of those that are advocating and behind this nonsense would never allow it to happen in their own states. A word is enough for the wise.

“No-one, no matter how big or powerful, should think that they own the @OfficialPDPNig. If there is any attempt to undermine Ayade it will spark off a crisis in the party that will split it right down the middle and the consequences will not be limited to Cross Rivers state.”