Sen. Iyorchia Ayu, the beleaguered PDP national chairman, has called the alleged suspension of him by Igyorov Ward executive members of the Gboko Local Government Area (LGA) in the state of Benue an exercise in futility.
Ayu claimed he had not been suspended in a statement released by his special adviser on media and communications, Simon Imobo-Tswam, on Monday in Abuja.
Ayu claimed that he had heard rumours that the Executive Committee of his Ward had suspended him.
“We wish to state categorically and with all emphasis at our disposal thus, that “The PDP National Chairman, Ayu, has not been suspended by his Ward. Some members of the Exco are only being teleguided by political gamblers to cause mischief and nothing more.
“For starters, Article 57(7) of the PDP Constitution as Amended in 2017, expressly prohibits any organ of the party or executive committee of the party at the Ward or State Level from taking any disciplinary measure against any member of the party’s National Executive Committee.
“The purported suspension is, therefore, an exercise in futility as it derives its strength majorly from gross illiteracy, ignorance, gambling and desperation. It has only mischief, drama and propaganda value.”
The so-called suspension letter, according to Ayu, was prepared by an illiterate and was only provided to the members who were compelled into signing it somewhere in Makurdi.
“This is why the original date is tipexed and 24 March imposed on it.
“From what we know, the document itself is fraudulent as the signatures of the Ward Executives were forged or obtained under duress.
“The chairman, his deputy and legal adviser didn’t sign the letter. The 14th person on the list didn’t sign too. “In fact, the same applies for Nos. 5, 8 and 16.
“At the time they were supposed to be in Makurdi, the others coerced, intimidated and induced members of the Exco, they were actually in their villages, going about their normal businesses.”
About nine exco members are still being held prisoner at a place in Makurdi, according to Ayu, for obvious reasons.
He continued, stating "it is instructive," that their cell phones had been turned off as predicted.
The ward executive reportedly suspended Ayu on Sunday due to allegations of anti-party activity, inability to pay his annual subscription fees, and failure to cast a ballot in the recently finished elections.
According to the suspension reports, the PDP performed horribly in Igyorov Ward because "it was also discovered that, most of his closest allies worked for the opposition party, the All Progressives Congress (APC)".
“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,” Ayu said.
