The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has replaced Senator Iyioricha Ayu as National Chairman.
At an emergency meeting on Tuesday, the NWC acknowledged the order of the Benue State High Court, which barred Ayu from parading himself as Chairman of the opposition of the party.
Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday, Debo Ologunagba, National Publicity Secretary of the party, said after a careful consideration of the Court Order and in line with Section 45 (2) of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017), the NWC resolved that the Deputy National Chairman (North), Amb. Umar Ililya Damagum assumes the National Chairmanship of the Party.
The NWC charged all leaders, critical stakeholders, teeming members and supporters to remain calm and united “at this critical time”.
Earlier, the ex-parte application brought by Plaintiff/Applicant, Engr. Conrad Utaan, sought an order restraining Ayu and the PDP from parading the former as its chairman having lost membership of the party.
“An order of interim injunction restraining the 1st defendant Senator Dr. Iyorchia Ayu from parading himself as the National Chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) pending the hearing and determination of Motion on Notice already filed.
“The application is supported by a fifteen (15) paragraph affidavit to which is annexed three exhibits
as Exhibits A1, A2 and B which are the Applicant’s membership card of the 2nd defendant, receipts for
payment of dues and a vote of no confidence passed on the 1st Defendant/Respondent by the Igyorov Council Ward of the 2nd Defendant in Gboko Local Government, Benue State.”
Justice Kpochi averred that upon a dispassionate consideration of the facts placed before him in the pool of the affidavit evidence, and again, upon the consideration of the issues distilled in the written address granted the interim injunction as craved.
“Consequently, this application is hereby granted in terms of the reliefs captured in the motion papers as herein before reproduced. It is so ordered.”
The matter was adjourned to April 17 for hearing.
Utaan, the applicant while speaking to journalists shortly after obtaining the injunction maintained that, “I have just obtained an order signed by Justice Wilfred Kpochi of the Makurdi High Court about a matter that I took before the court between myself and the former Chairman of our Party, Senator Iyorchia Ayu and the PDP.
“I’m sure you are aware of the facts of the matter as it concerns us here in Benue. We naturally expected that the poor performance that we have just recorded as a party in Benue we expected Ayu, like it is done in senile climes, to step aside honourably because he wasn’t able to lead the party to victory, and allow the party to move on without him.
“Unfortunately he has refused to show or display that kind of honour and I thought it wise to approach the court to to see how to agreed with the position of his ward who only 24 hours ago, has suspended him from the party.
“Our expectation is that you cannot be the National Chairman of a party that you are not a member of.
“Fortunately for us as a party, Iyorchia Ayu is no longer a member of the Peoples Democratic Party as declared by his ward and under normal circumstances, he has no reason whatsoever to continue as the national chairman of our party.”
