. NWC meets Thursday to review gale of suspension
Ben Peters, Abuja
The National Working Committee of the People’s Democratic party on Tuesday met briefly with the embattled National Chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, to review the pending court case against him.
But shortly after the meeting, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, announced the stepping aside of Ayu as national chairman, and the taking over of the party’s affairs by the Deputy national Chairman, North, Ambassador Umar Damagum.
“Having reviewed the pending court case against our National Chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, we the NWC met briefly and resolved that Ambassador Umar Damagum takes over the affairs of the party in acting capacity, pending the outcome of the court case,” Ologunagba said.
Meanwhile, Igyorov People’s Democratic Party Ward Executive Committee said they have disclaimed and disassociated themselves from the purported letter of vote of no confidence and suspension of Ayu as a member of PDP in Igyorov Council Ward of Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State, which was dated the 24th day of March, 2023.
Barrister Kyaave Vihive, who briefed journalists at the PDP National Secretariat, Wadata House, Abuja, said the executive committee had never discussed in any of their meetings prior to election or post-2023 general elections about the conduct of the National Chairman, according to Chapter 10 Section 57 of the party’s Constitution 2017 as amended.
He said, “The Executive Committee Members have stated clearly that they have no knowledge about the letter and have not authorized anybody whatsoever to generate such mischievous letter on behalf of the Executive Committee.
“The purported signatures on the letter are forged and no member of PDP Executive Committee of Igyorov Council Ward have signed that letter nor caused to be signed on his or her behalf. The names of the Executive Committee Members are wrongly written and spelt, which shows the desperation of the mischief makers. The content of the purported letter itself is contradictory on the holding of the presidential and National Assembly Elections on the 25th March, 2023 while the letter itself is dated 24th, March, 2023. The letter was written before the purported Commission of the offence, which shows clearly that it is the hand work of the mischief makers.
“We hereby pass vote of full confidence in Senator Dr. Iyorchial Ayu and we also pledge our full support for his pragmatic leadership style (as the National Chairman of the Party) by taking our party to the higher heights.
“The public is hereby notified to disregard the letter and its content for not being genuine and also not coming from PDP Executive Committee of Igyorov Council.”
