Court bars Ayu from parading himself as PDP National Chairman

… only NEC can suspend me – Chairman

BY TUNDE OPALANA

A Benue High Court in the Benue State Judicial Division yesterday restrained Dr. Iyorchia Ayu from parading himself as National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Justice W I. Kpochi granted an application for order of interim injuction restraining Ayu from office presented by M. T. Assoh, Esq. on behalf of Engr Conrad Terhide Utaan (Plaintiff/Applicant), in a suit NO. MHC/85/2023 and Motion NO. MHC/633M/2023.

In the ex-parte application, the Plaintiff/Applicant principally sought

“An order of interim injunction restraining the 1st defendant Senator Dr. Iyorchia Ayu from parading himself as the National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) having lost membership of the party, pending the hearing and determination of Motion on Notice already filed.”

The application was supported by a fifteen (15) paragraph affidavit to which is annexed three exhibits as Exhibits A1, A2 and B which are the Applicant’s membership card of the 2nd defendant, receipts for payment of dues and a vote of no confidence passed on the 1st Defendant/Respondent by the Igyorov Council Ward of the 2nd Defendant in Gboko Local Government, Benue State.

In his ruling, Justice Kpichi said “upon hearing Mr. M. T. Assoh of Learned Counsel ably move the application and upon a dispassionate consideration of the facts placed before me in the pool of the affidavit evidence, and again, upon the consideration of the issues distilled in the written address by M. T. Assoh of Learned Counsel, it is my candid view that this is a proper case to grant the interim injunction as craved.

“Consequently, this application is hereby granted in terms of the reliefs captured in the motion papers as herein before reproduced.

“It is so ordered.”

The case was adjourned to 17th March, 2023 for hearing.

Meanwhile, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu said the executive members of the party at Igyorov Council Ward, in Gboko Local Government area of Benue State and their sponsors like the state governor, Samuel Ortom and Rivers State governor are ignorant of the process for suspending a national officer of his status from a party.

Ayu had earlier Monday insisted that only the National Executive Council (NEC) of the party has the constitutional right to suspend him, saying that action of the PDP executive at the ward level is a nullity.

On Sunday, 11 of the 17 member executive of the Igyorov Council Ward in Gboko Local Government had passed a vote of no confidence on Ayu on allegation of anti- party activities and subsequently suspended from the party.

Reacting on Monday, Simon Imobo-Tswam, (Special Adviser to the National Chairman on Media and Communications) in a statement categorically stated that Ayu has not been suspended by his Ward.

Rather, he said “some members of the Exco are only being teleguided by political gamblers to cause mischief and nothing more.”

Advancing reasons why the ward executive acted in error, Imobo- Tswam said “for starters, Article 57(7) of the PDP Constitution as Amended in 2017 expressly prohibits any organ of the party or executive committee of the party at the Ward or State Level from taking any disciplinary measure against any member of the party’s National Executive Committee.

“The purported suspension is, therefore, an exercise in futility as it derives its strength majorly from gross illiteracy, ignorance, gambling and desperation. It has only mischief, drama and propaganda value.

“But more than this, the so-called suspension letter was written by an illiterate before hand, and only given to the coerced members to sign somewhere in Makurdi.”

Faulting the purported letter written to the party chairman in Benue State, the media aide said “this is why the original date is blotted and 24 March imposed on it. And this is also why it states that the presidential/NASS and Governorship/State Assembly elections held on 25th and 18th March, 2023 respectively.

“From what we know, document itself is fraudulent as the signatures of the Ward Executives were forged or obtained under duress.

“The chairman, his deputy and legal adviser didn’t sign. The 14th person on the list didn’t sign too. She was at NKST Ambighir for the Holy Communion.

“In fact, the same applies for Nos. 5, 8 and 16. At the time they were supposed to be in Makurdi with the other coerced, intimidated and induced members of the Exco, they were actually in their villages, going about their normal businesses.

“Up till now, about nine members of the Ward Exco are still being held hostage in a location in Makurdi for obvious reasons. And expectedly, their mobile numbers have been switched off. It is instructive.”

He advised the general public to ignore rumours to “this heinous effect” stressing that those behind the plot are only investing in expensive illusions.

Recalled that the executive in a letter addressed to the Chairman Benue State chapter of the party, titled ” Vote of no confidence and suspension of Dr. Iyorchia Ayu as member PDP, Igyorov Council Ward, of Gboko Local Government, Benue State”, the national chairman was accused of anti- party activities .

The Executive said the decision was taken after reviewing the outcome of both the Presidential and Governorship election on February 25 and March 18 .

“We observed with utmost dismay that Dr. Iyorvhia Ayu who is the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP worked against the success of the party at the Igyorov Council Ward.

“It is on record that he has also failed to pay his Annual Subscription fees as provided under Section8 Subsection 9 of the constitution of the Peoples Democratic Party 2017 (As Amended).

READ ALSO: PDP Crisis: Deputy National Chairman, Danagum takes

The Exco also alleged that most of Ayu’s allies worked for the opposition APC during both February 25 and March 18, 2023 elections.

“In view of the foregoing, we hereby pass a vote of no confidence on Dr. Iyorchia Ayu and suspended him a a member of our party with immediate effect.

“The suspension takes effect from 24th of March, 2023”, read the resolution of the executive read by the Secretary of the Igyorov Council Ward, Mr. Banger Dooyum.