By Christopher Enenche (Benue State Correspondent, in Makurdi)
This is certainly an unpleasant season for Senator Iyorchia Ayu, National Chairman of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as a Benue State High Court sitting in Makurdi, on Monday, issued an order restraining him from parading himself as PDP chairman.
According to the court, the order on the former Senate President will subsist pending the determination of the substantive suit which has been adjourned for hearing to April 17, 2023.
The suit against Ayu was brought by a Benue state PDP member, Terhide Utaan, (plaintiff) before Justice W. I Kpochi of the Benue State High Court.
Utaan told journalists during a press briefing on Monday in Makurdi after obtaining the judicial order, that it is wrong for Senator Ayu to continue to enjoy the office of PDP national chairman and consequently polarize the party further by his presence as Chairman when he was already suspended by his Igyorov party ward Exco on Sunday.
Ayu was suspended for alleged anti-party activities and for his inability to vote during the last elections coupled with the allegation that has not been paying his party annual dues. His PDP ward Exco also blamed Ayu's leadership style for the substantial losses the party suffered during the just concluded general elections.
But in a swift reaction to his suspension , Ayu's media adviser, Simon Imobo-Tswam, on Monday, issued a statement claiming that the PDP ward lacked the powers to suspend national chairman.
The weekend suspension of Iyorchia Ayu from the PDP has however elicited negative reactions from political opponents within the party. For instance, Rivers state governor, Nyesom Wike, on Monday, expressed his elation about Ayu's suspension and the passage of a vote of no confidence vote on the PDP boss.
Wike said: “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,” Wike stated. NNL.
