Only PDP NEC can suspend me, Ayu boasts

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, has described reports of his suspension from the party as a nullity just as he argued that only the National Executive Committee (NEC) could suspend him.

Ayu claimed that some members of the executive committee of his Ward’s chapter of the party were teleguided by those he called political gamblers in Makurdi to cause mischief.

Ayu in a statement by his media aide, Simon Imobo-Tswam, said that “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”

On Sunday, the chapter of the PDP in Ayu’s Igyorov ward announced that Ayu had been suspended for allegedly engaging in anti-party activities.

From a resolution passed at the end of the meeting of Executives of the party at the Ward and read by the Secretary of Igyorov council ward, Mr Banger Dooyum, said,”The Peoples Democratic Party Executive Committee of Igyorov council ward of Gboko local government area in Benue state has passed a vote of no confidence on the PDP National Chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu and suspended him from the party”.

Mr Dooyum, while reading the resolution of the ward Exco, said “He (Ayu) was involved in amti- party activities making the PDP to lose at his ward and local government along with his allies who also didn’t vote at the Governorship Election”

Ayu was also accused of not paying his annual dues as enshrined by the party’s constitution.

But in the ten-paragraph press statement, Ayu’s Media aide said: “We wish to state categorically and with all emphasis at our disposal that “the PDP National Chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, has not been suspended by his Ward. Some members of the Exco are only being teleguided by political gamblers to cause mischief and nothing more”

“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” he stressed.

The statement explained that “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.
This is why the original date is typexed 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.”