‘Why PDP’s NEC, BoT, Governors, Others Can’t Help Ayu’

A National Working Committee (NWC) member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday explained why critical organs of the party cannot help the suspended National Chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu.

The party’s critical organs comprise the National Executive Committee (NEC), Board of Trustees (BoT), PDP Governors’ Forum and the National Caucus.

They have remained aloof since Ayu’s suspension on March 26 by his Igyorov Ward in the Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State and the subsequent March 27 order of a Benue High Court restraining him from parading himself as PDP National Chairman.

Ayu had, on March 28, stepped down as chairman, in deference to the restraining order of the Benue High Court.

The erstwhile national chairman was replaced with the party’s Deputy National Chairman (North), Ambassador Umar Damagum, same day.

Damagum’s appointment is in acting capacity.

The Benue High Court had fixed April 17 for hearing in the case against Ayu.

Explaining the apparent aloofness of the party’s organs, the PDP NWC member told our correspondent on telephone yesterday that the party organs cannot intervene in the matter until the court case is concluded.

The NWC member, who spoke in confidence, said any attempt by the party organs to discuss Ayu’s suspension would be sub judice and that it would amount to preempting the decision of the court.

The source said: “The fact on the ground is that the case is pending in court. So, nobody can dabble into it. But if parties to the dispute decide on their own to withdraw the case from the court, then the party organs may decide to mdiate on it. Until that is done, there is nothing anyone can do about it.”

But The Nation gathered that most of the stakeholders, including a good number of Ayu’s colleagues in the NWC, were not favourablly disposed to having Ayu back as National Chairman.

Confirming this, the source said not a few in the NWC and stakeholders in other organs of the party shared the sentiments.

According to him, Ayu’s current travail was self-inflicted because he disobeyed a subsisting order of another court in Benue State restraining the PDP from suspending or taking any disciplinary measures against Governor Samuel Ortom.
The NWC under Ayu had referred Ortom to the party’s national disciplinary committee for alleged anti-party activities while the restraining order of the court was still subsisting.

“Many of our leaders were not happy with the decision to drag Governor Ortom before the disciplinary committee against the order of the court.

“Although Governor Ortom had denied having a hand in the suspended national chairman’s ordeal, we all know that it was a backlash from Benue State and Dr. Ayu should take responsibility for it.”

Another highly placed party source yesterday dismissed reports in another national daily of a NEC meeting purportedly scheduled to hold tomorrow.

The source, who did not want to be named, said there would be no such NEC meeting tomorrow.

The last NEC meeting was held in September under Ayu and a vote of confidence was passed in the now suspended national chairman.