Leon Usigbe
The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Iyorchia Ayu, has rejected his purported suspension by the party’s Ward Executives in his Igyorov Ward of Gboko Local Government Area, LGA, of Benue State.
Reacting to the move in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Simon Imobo-Tswam on Monday, the party boss maintained that the executives are being teleguided by political gamblers.
He affirmed that the PDP Constitution forbids any organ at the ward level from taking disciplinary measures against members of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC).
Ayu said his suspension letter was written and given to the “coerced members” to sign somewhere in Makurdi.
The statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn to rumours that the PDP National Chairman, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, has been suspended by the Executive Committee of his Ward.
“We wish to state categorically and with all emphasis at our disposal thus: The PDP National Chairman, Dr Iyorchia 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.
“But more than this, the so-called suspension letter was written by an illiterate beforehand, and only given to the coerced members to sign somewhere in Makurdi.
“This is why the original date is typed and 24 March imposed on it. And this is also why it states that the presidential/NASS and Governorship/State Assembly elections were held on the 25th and 18th of March, 2023 respectively.
“From what we know, the document itself is fraudulent as the signatures of the Ward Executives were forged.
“The chairman, his deputy and legal adviser didn’t sign. The 14th person on the list didn’t sign too. She was at NKST Ambighir for the Holy Communion.
“The same applies to Nos. 5, 8 and 16. At the time they were supposed to be in Makurdi with the other coerced, intimidated and induced members of the Exco, they were actually in their villages, going about their regular businesses.
“The general public is at this moment advised to ignore rumours to this heinous effect. Those behind the plot are only investing in expensive illusions.”
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