MAKURDI, NIGERIA – A Benue State High Court in Makurdi restrained embattled Senator Iyorchia Ayu from parading himself as the National Chairman of the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The court order, issued on Monday, March 27, 2023, was based on an ex-parte application filed against Ayu by Conrad Terhide Utaan, the plaintiff in the case.
The ex-parte application details, presided over by Justice W.I. Kpochi, are listed as suit no. MHC/85/2023 with motion no. MHC/633m/2023. M. T. Assoh Esq, counsel for the plaintiff, moved the motion before the court.
In his ruling, Justice Kpochi stated, “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.”
The application was granted, and the case has been adjourned to April 17, 2023, for further hearings. A 15-paragraph affidavit supporting the application was also submitted as an exhibit.
This development comes just as Governor Nyesom Wike, the leader of the rebel PDP governors tagged G5, renewed his call for Ayu to step down from the position.
The Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike has thrown his weight behind the calls for Iyorchia Ayu to vacate the office of the national chairman of Nigeria’s main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Wike said this while responding to the suspension of Ayu by some members of the executive of his Igyorov Council Ward, Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State on Monday.
Wike who spoke as a guest on Sunrise, the breakfast programme of Channels Television said he was in full support of the suspension of Ayu.
The Governor, however, denied being behind the suspension.
But he also promised to support the ward executive that suspended Ayu in all ramifications, including with money if there is the need to do so.
The Rivers State Governor said Ayu should have resigned from office after poor performance of PDP in recent elections in the state.
He noted that the PDP came third in the presidential election while the party also lost the governorship post to APC.
Worse still, Wike noted that the PDP failed to win election in the polling unit, ward and local goverment, describing him as a colossal failure.
He also said Ayu was not fully devoted to the PDP as he has said before now that he is close to the presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress, APC, who is now president-elect, Bola Tinubu and the candidate of his own party, Atiku Abubabakar.
“I’m in support of his suspension. He presided over colossal failure of te party. We must take our party back,” Wike said.
He accused Ayu of throwing the presidential election the PDP could have won away because of his refusal to vacate office.
Wike also accused Ayu of using the party to make money.
Ayu was suspended for anti-party activities, according to a statement signed by 12 out of 17 officials of his ward issued on Sunday in Makurdi.
“We observed with utmost dismay that Iyorchia Ayu who is the National Chairman of PDP worked against the success of the party in Igyorov Council Ward.
“It is on record that, he has also failed to pay his Annual Subscription Fees as provided under Section 8 Subsection 9 of the constitution of PDP 2017 (As Amended).
“Further investigation also revealed that, he did not vote during the: Governorship and State Assembly Elections held on March 18, 2023,” the statement stated.
“It further stated that it was also discovered that, most of his closest allies worked for the opposition party, the All Progressive Congress (APC) and hence, the abysmal performance of the PDP in Igyorov Ward.
“It stated that in view of the foregoing, a vote of no confidence was passed on him and he was suspended as a member of the party with immediate effect, the Ward Executives said in the statement.
According to the statement, the suspension took effect from March 24.
Ayu’s suspension followed his National Working Committee, NWC led suspension of some party chieftains who accused of working against the party in the recent elections on March 23.
Those suspended were former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose; former president of the Senate, Pius Anyim; Prof Dennis Ityavyar and Aslam Aliyu.
A statement by the National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, said decision was reached after an extensive review of the affairs of the party, pursuant to the provisions of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017).
The PDP also referred Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue to the National Disciplinary Committee over his reported involvement in anti-party activities.
Additional reporting by the News Agency of Nigeria.
