The crisis rocking the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, may be far from over as the National Chairman of the party, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, was on Sunday suspended his ward executive.
The suspension is coming on the heels of Governor Samuel Ortom being dragged by the National Executive Council on allegations of anti-party activities.
The ward secretary of Igyorov Ward of Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State, Mr. Vangeryina Dooyum, explained that Ayu was suspended over anti-party activities.
Dooyum, who addressed journalists on behalf of Kashi Philip, the ward chairman, said, “We observed with utmost dismay that Dr. Iyorchia Ayu who is the National Chairman of the 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 (9) of the Constitution of the PDP, 2017 (As amended).”
In a text signed by 12 out of the 17 member-ward executive, the Secretary said the decision to suspend the National Chairman was reached after the ward leadership reviewed his conduct at the end of the just concluded general elections.
“Further investigation also revealed that he did not vote during the Governorship and State Assembly elections held on March 18, 2023.
“It was also discovered that most of his closest allies worked for the opposition party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, and hence, the abysmal performance of the PDP in Igyorov Ward.
“In view of the foregoing, we hereby pass a vote of no confidence on Dr. Iyorchia Ayu and suspend him as a member of our party with immediate effect. The suspension takes effect from March 24, 2023.”
In a related development, the PDP at the state level during the weekend passed a vote of confidence on Governor Samuel Ortom.
State Publicity Secretary of PDP, Bemgba Iortyom, in a statement signed on behalf of the party’s state working committee in Makurdi at the weekend called on its national body to rescind decision referring the governor to its disciplinary body.
“We have noted with grave concern the action taken yesterday by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party in referring Governor Samuel Ortom to its Disciplinary Committee to answer to charges of anti-party activities preferred against him.
“Benue PDP finds it difficult to understand the rationale by which anti party activities are determined at the National Secretariat by the NWC such as sees one out of the G-5 Governors singled out for punitive action on ground of that offence, and what the procedure is for meting out punitive measures against such anti party activities where some persons including Professor Dennis Ityavyar having been suspended without facing any disciplinary Committee.
“The party feels strongly that in fulfilling its duty as a state chapter it must remind the NWC of the implications of its current action against Governor Ortom and others.
“It is, therefore, a motion of the Benue PDP SWC that a Vote-of-Confidence be passed on Governor Samuel Ortom for his steadfast loyalty and selfless, sacrificial leadership to our great party, PDP.”
