The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, who stood up from his post on Tuesday, is poised to defend his suspension by a Benue State High Court, Makurdi on Monday.
Ayu’s Special Assistant on Communication, Simon Imobo-swam, told this to our reporter soon after the party announced the appointment of the Deputy National Chairman, (North), Umar Damagum Ayu as the interim national chairman.
He said He will dispute the suspension ruling in court.
The Igorov ward executive committee in the Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State had on Sunday suspended Ayu for suspected anti-party actions and for failing to pay his membership dues.
In the wake of the suspension, the Benue State court stopped Ayu from presenting himself as the chairman of the party after a complaint brought by a former advisor to the state governor, Conrad Utaan.
Ayu and the PDP were named as the top and second responses, respectively.
The matter has been deferred to April 17 for a hearing.
But his Special Assistant on Communication, in answer to an inquiry from The PUNCH, affirmed his principal’s intention to oppose the court ruling legally.
When asked whether his beleaguered principal will oppose the court ruling preventing him from portraying himself as the PDP national chairman, Imobo-swam simply responded “yes” without entertaining more questions.
He however stated that the PDP “has spoken everything touching the subject. Thus, there is no need to say more.”
Damagum, in a short encounter with media in Abuja, said that he was taking over the party leadership in an acting capacity “to complete all righteousness.”
Jesus responded, “We are here to satisfy all righteousness. We have a court order restricting our national chairman and we are law-abiding. I shall be here with you in an acting capacity awaiting the outcome of the court.
‘’I want to utilize this occasion to exhort you to offer me the collaboration we all used to enjoy with you. I shall have a meeting immediately after this session with the NWC (National Working Committee) to assess what is occurring in the party.”
In sympathy with Ayu, PDP stakeholders from his Igyorev ward protested at the party office on Tuesday.
They indicated support for the suspended chairman and further approved a confidence vote for him.
Addressing journalists, a ward executive member, Stephen Shimahile, said “We categorically disclaim and disassociate ourselves from the purported letter of vote of no confidence and suspension of Senator Iyorchial Ayu as a member of PDP in Igyorov Council Ward of the Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State dated the 24th day of March 2023 circulating in the media
“The executive committee members have never talked in any of our meetings before the election or post-2023 general election regarding the behaviour of the national chairman in compliance with chapter 10 section 57 of the party’s Constitution 2017 as modified.
“The executive committee members have said explicitly that they have no knowledge of the letter and have not approved anyone whatsoever to write a such foolish letter on behalf of the executive committee.’’
PDP Executive
He said the signatures on the letter were faked, adding that no member of the PDP executive committee of the Igyorov council ward signed it or caused it to be signed on his or her behalf.
“The names of the executive committee members are improperly spelt and spelt which demonstrated the desperation of the mischief-makers,” he remarked.
The spokesperson for the PDP Presidential Campaign Committee, Dino Melaye said that Ayu’s choice to respect the court order was a testimonial to the party’s conviction in the supremacy of the law.
While noting that Ayu reserved the right to seek legal redress, the former lawmaker who represented Kogi West Senatorial District at the National Assembly, warned the Governor Nyesom Wike-led Integrity Group not to be too fast in celebrating because “Ayu did not resign; he only stepped aside in obedience of a court order.”
He stated, “Ayu has the right to seek legal remedy and I am confident it is an option he would pursue. Ayu did not quit; he merely stood aside. He will bounce back and for the G-5 governors, we advise them not to celebrate yet because the song has just begun.
“This is no celebration moment for them. Through this step, the party and the chairman have both proved that they are law-abiding. Whether the ex parte order was skillfully gained, bought or enticed, Ayu opted to follow it as a law-abiding citizen. There is no purpose in taking the laws into our hands.’’
Going further, Melaye added, “While this issue lingered, Governor Wike maintained stating that he and his group wanted the chairmanship of the party to shift to the South but in conformity with the constitution of the party, the post has stayed in the North. Now, has this benefited their cause?”
In a similar line, a member of the PDP National Executive Committee, Timothy Osadolor told The PUNCH that anybody ruling out the prospects of Ayu returning to the office “does not know the material he is made of.”
According to him, “Ayu will be back. It is not a matter of if but when. As I indicated a few days ago, the suspension from his ward is null and invalid since the constitution of the party is unambiguous on the topic.
“Only a committee set up by the NEC of the PDP may suspend a national official of the party. Ayu will prove this in court. He only stood aside to demonstrate to them in court that they cannot censure him as they are seeking to do.”
Regarding the way ahead for the party, Osadolor who serves as the Deputy National Youth Leader of the PDP stated, “We must put aside any pettiness and work in the interest of the party. Yet some affluent persons who become what they are today thanks to the PDP platform want to destroy the party.”
A member of the PDP Board of Trustees and former deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, Austin Opara stated that given the course of events, Ayu was left with little alternative but to follow the ruling of the court.
Opara, a longtime ally of the Rivers State governor, added that the besieged chairman may find his way back to the office if the ruling against him was annulled by the court.
