Few days ago, Banda announced that she has withdrawn her 2019 presidential bid, paving way for Lazarus Chakwera. Her move came barely a month after a one-day old alliance with UTM failed to take off.

However, Chirwa has protested the move and announced her resignation from the party saying PP would have maintained the alliance with UTM of Saulos Chilima.

“The reason for my resignation is that I had endorsed the initial decision the PP National Executive Committee had made a month ago to go into an alliance with the United Transformation Movement/Party for the sole purpose of supporting Rt Hon Saulos Chilima to lead this country after 21 May 2019 guided by his transformative vision he has for this country! I was happy with the Party's earlier stand,” said Chirwa.

Chirwa said while she honours her party's abrupt change of thought and its decision to form an alliance with MCP, but she do not subscribe to the decision.

In reaction, PP Publicity Secretary Ackson Kalaile Banda told MBC Online that Chirwa was simply exercising her said right to freedom of association.

“The decision to work with MCP was not a one person decision, it was agreed at the NEC meeting. However, as a party, we believe in freedom of expression and association. What she has done is within her rights [to freedom] of association. As a party, we will miss her and we wish her well,” said Kalaile Banda.