A High Court in Makurdi, Benue State, has given an interim order that restrains Dr. Iyorchia Ayu from parading himself as the national chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
The presiding judge, Justice W.I. Kpochi, issued this injunction on Monday, 27 March, in the suit No. MHC/85/2023.
The lawsuit was filed at the court by Terhide Utaan, with Ayu and the PDP as defendants, but the case was adjourned until April 17 for further hearing.
The application was supported by a 15 paragraph affidavit to which it was annexed three exhibits as exhibits A1, A2 and B, the applicant’s membership card; of the second defendant, receipts for payment of dues and a vote of no confidence passed on the 1st defendant by the Igyorov Council Ward of the 2nd defendant in Gboko L.G.A, Benue State.
The court statement read:
“Upon hearing Mr. M. T. Assoh of Learned Counsel ably move the application and upon a dispassionate consideration of the facts placed before me in the pool of the affidavit evidence, and again, upon the consideration of the issues distilled in the written address by M. T. Assoh of Learned Counsel, it is my candid view that this is a proper case to grant 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.”
Reports have it that the ward executives of the party at Igyorov Ward of Gboko L.G.A, Benue State, announced Ayu’s suspension on Sunday, through its secretary, Vangeryina Dooyum, on behalf of Kashi Philip, the ward chairman.
Dr. Ayu is being reportedly suspended based on alleged anti-party activities.
However, the embattled chairman stated that the PDP constitution expressly prohibited any organ of the party or executive committee at ward, state or national level to take any disciplinary measure against any member of the National Executive Committee.
Ayu further stated that the whole disciplinary action taken was based on mischief and propaganda that have only reaped a futile process, revealing the desperation and ignorance of those behind it.
