PDP revokes suspension order on Anyim, Fayose, Ortom, others

Obiora Ifoh, Abuja

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has reversed the referral of the Governor of Benue State, Dr. Samuel Ortom to the National Disciplinary Committee, and also lifted suspension slammed on some of its leaders.

In a statement by the National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the party’s National Working Committee said it extensively discussed recent developments in the Party and recognized the imperativeness of a total reconciliation among Party leaders and critical stakeholders for a more cohesive Party in the overall interest of its teeming members and Nigerians in general.

According to the statement, “Consequent upon the above, the NWC reverses the referral of the Governor of Benue State, His Excellency, Dr. Samuel Ortom to the National Disciplinary Committee.

“The NWC in the same vein reverses the suspension of the following underlisted members of our great Party: “Ibrahim Shema (Katsina State), “Ayodele Fayose (Ekiti State), “Sen. Pius Anyim (Ebonyi State), “Prof. Dennis Ityavyar (Benue State), and Dr. Aslam Aliyu (Zamfara State)”

The party said, “This decision is without prejudice to the powers of the NWC to take necessary disciplinary action against any member of the Party at any time pursuant to the provisions of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017).

“The NWC charges all leaders, critical stakeholders and teeming members of our Party across the country to be guided by the provisions of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017) as well as the new spirit and necessity of reconciliation, unity and harmony in our Party at this critical time.

“The PDP must remain focused as we continue to take every necessary action to recover the stolen mandate freely given by Nigerians to our Party and Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar, on Saturday February 25, 2023, at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal.”

Daily Champion reports that the PDP’s National Chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu stepped down from office on Saturday while the Deputy National Chairman (North) Amb. Umar Ililya Damagum assumed as the acting National Chairman.

The party explained that the change of baton was in obedience to an order by a High Court in Makurdi, Benue State, which through an interim injunction restrained Dr Ayu from parading himself as the PDP’s National Chairman.

Recall that Ayu was suspended by the ward executives of the party at Igyorov Ward of Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State on Sunday by the ward secretary, Vangeryina Dooyum, on behalf of Kashi Philip, the ward chairman, over alleged anti-party activities.

But the embattled chairman stated that the PDP constitution expressly prohibited any organ of the party or executive committee at ward, state or national level to take any disciplinary measure against any member of the National Executive Committee.

The restrained chairman further noted that the purported announcement of his suspension was only mischief, drama and propaganda, adding that it was an exercise in futility that was derivable from gross “ignorance and desperation.”