Attah Ede, Makurdi
A Makurdi High Court has granted an order restraining the suspended National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Iyorchia Ayu, from parading himself as chairman of the party pending the determination of the substantive suit filed on the matter.
Hearing into the suit has been adjourned to April 17, 2023.
The plaintiff in the suit, Mr Terhide Utaan, a member of the PDP from Benue State, obtained the restraining order from the court presided over by Justice W.I Kpochi on Monday.
In suit No MHC/85/2023, Dr. Ayu is the first defendant while the PDP is the second defendant.
The suit seeks among other reliefs a declaration that, Dr. Ayu is no longer fit and qualified to hold office as the national chairman of the PDP, having lost membership of the party in his Igyorov Council Ward of Gboko, where he first registered as a member of the party.
It also seeks a declaration that Ayu cannot hold himself out, function and preside over the affairs of the PDP as its national chairman having seized to enjoy all the rights and privileges of membership by virtue of his suspension by the ward executive committee of the party in his Igyorov Council Ward of Gboko Local Government where he use to be a member of the party.
It further seeks an order restraining Ayu from parading himself as the national chairman of the PDP having lost membership of the party, amongst other reliefs.
Ayu was suspended by his Igyorov Ward, in Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State, which passes a vote of no confidence on him on Sundaya
The National Chairman was accused of anti-party activities.
But Ayu, described his suspension as an excercise in futility in his reaction on Monday.
Special Adviser to Ayu on Media and Communications, Simon Imobo-Tswam, said in a statement on Monday in Abuja, that some members of the Exco who issued his suspension are only being teleguided by political gamblers to cause mischief.
According to the statement, the purported suspension was an exercise in futility as it derived its strength majorly from gross illiteracy, ignorance, gambling and desperation.
He said that the purported suspension has no value except for its mischief, drama and propaganda value.
According to Ayu, the so-called suspension letter was written and only given to the members who he said were coerced, to sign somewhere in Makurdi.
He observed that the document itself was fraudulent as the signatures of the Ward Executives were forged or obtained under duress.
He stated that the chairman, his deputy and legal adviser didn’t sign the purported suspension letter.
Meanwhile, Ayu’s political foe in the PDP, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has reportedly hailed the vote of no confidence passed on Ayu.
“I am not from Benue State, but I am happy, and now that Benue State has done it, we would now come out and say we are in support of it,” he was quoted as saying.
