With Ayu Out, PDP Reverses Suspension of Anyim, Shema Others

About 48 hours after Dr Iyorchia Ayu stepped aside as National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Party’s National Working Committee (NWC) has reversed a decision taken penultimate week to suspend ranking members.

A statement signed by Hon. Debo Ologunagba, National Publicity Secretary of the Party, made available to journalists Thursday, said the decision to reverse the suspension order was taken at a meeting of the NWC on Thursday.

The meeting, Ologunagba noted, also “extensively discussed recent developments in the party.”

Those affected by the reversal order include former governors of Katsina and Ekiti states, Ibrahim Shema and Ayo Fayose. Others are former Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim, Prof. Dennis Ityavyar from Benue State, and Dr Aslam Aliyu from Zamfara State.

The NWC also reversed the decision to refer Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue state to the Party’s disciplinary committee.

“The NWC recognized the imperativeness of a total reconciliation among Party leaders and critical stakeholders for a more cohesive Party in the general interest of our teeming members and Nigerians.
“Consequent upon the above, the NWC reverses the referral of the Governor of Benue State, Dr Samuel Ortom, to the National Disciplinary Committee.
“This decision is without prejudice to the powers of the NWC to take necessary disciplinary action against any member of the Party at any time pursuant to the provisions of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017).

“The NWC charges all leaders, critical stakeholders, and teeming members of our Party across the country to be guided by the provisions of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017) as well as the new spirit and necessity of reconciliation, unity and harmony in our Party at this critical time.

“The PDP must remain focused as we continue to take every necessary action to recover the stolen mandate freely given by Nigerians to our Party and Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar, on Saturday, February 25, 2023, at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal”, the statement read in part.