BY EDMOND ODOK AND SEGUN ADEBAYO – It is now celebration galore in the camp of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s stakeholders opposed to the former National Chairman, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, who has lost out in the Party’s political equation for now.
Acting on the order of a Benue High Court that on Monday barred Ayu from parading himself as the PDP National Chairman pending the determination of the suit before it, the Party’s National Working Committee (NWC) has already confirmed its Deputy National Chairman (North), Ambassador Umar Illiya Damagum, as the Acting National Chairman.
The NWC took the decision at an emergency meeting held yesterday after Ayu stepped aside in deference to the court order with the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr Debo Ologunagba, confirming the development in a statement shortly after the meeting.
According to Ologunagba, “The NWC at an emergency meeting today, Tuesday, March 28, 2023, acknowledged the Order of the Benue State High Court, dated March 27, 2023, with regards to the chairmanship position of our great party.
“After careful consideration of the Court Order and in line with Section 45 (2) of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017), the NWC resolved that the Deputy National Chairman (North) His Excellency, Ambassador Umar Ililya Damagum assumes the National Chairmanship of our Party in an acting capacity with effect from today, Tuesday, March 28, 2023.
“The NWC charges all leaders, critical stakeholders, teeming members, and supporters of our great Party to remain calm and united at this critical time.”
It’s To Fulfill All Righteousness — Damagum
Ambassador Damagum, who reacted to the development, said he was stepping in as Acting Chairman “to fulfill all righteousness” because of the court order restraining Dr. Iyorchia Ayu from parading himself as National Chairman.
Further confirming his new role, Damagum said; “We are here to fulfill all righteousness. We have a court order restraining our National Chairman and we are law-abiding. I will be here with you in an acting capacity pending the determination of the case. I want to use this opportunity to enjoin you to give me the cooperation we all used to have with you.
“I will have a meeting immediately after this session with the NWC to review what is happening within the party.”
It’s Jubilation Time For Anti-Ayu Forces
For the anti-Ayu forces, it is time to jubilate over the unexpected exit of Ayu as the PDP National Chairmanship, especially among the G-5 Governors, tagged the “Integrity Group” led by Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State.
In this group are Governors Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), and Samuel Ortom (Benue) as well as former PDP Deputy National Chairman, Chief Olabode George, who were among those demanding that Ayu resigned as the Party’s National Chairman.
The push to have Ayu quit the National Chairmanship position started shortly after the May 2022 PDP presidential primaries won by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. The agitation was based on the existing power-sharing tradition and arrangement between the North and South where the President and National Chairman should not come from the same region.
Gov Wike Mocks Ayu, Says Accept You’re Gone for Good
An elated Governor Nyesom Wike, who reacted to the unfolding events, on Tuesday urged Ayu to accept that his reign as PDP National Chairman has effectively ended.
Speaking during the inauguration of the Trans-Kalabari Road at Degema Krakrama Bridge, Degema Local Government Area, Governor Wike said; “Ayu said nobody can suspend him but today, he has been sacked from the national office. We have an acting chairman. I told him he would go, whether he likes it or not, he will go.
“Those lawyers telling you the Ward has no power to suspend you, that only National Executive Council (NEC) can, don’t understand what is happening. When you came, it was the Ward that suspended (Uche) Secondus, and you went and took office, is it not?
“So, is it now that you know that it is only the NEC that can suspend you? Let me tell you, since they’ve not told you, the court has struck off that section of our constitution that says it’s only the NEC that can suspend (chairman). PDP did not even appeal the judgment.
“So, forget it, you are gone. You are wasting your time. We are ready for the battle. I am not from Benue but I have an interest and that interest is that Ayu must go. Look at it, a national chairman, your own ward will be suspending you. Does it not tell you that you are not on the ground? Your own ward will be suspending you and you go on television to say only NEC can suspend you. Stay, wait for NEC, but know that you’re gone.”
Further teasing the embattled former Chairman; “Ayu, the man you supported for president, you didn’t give him a vote, he lost. We supported a Southern president and we won in our states for equity, justice, and fairness.
“A man who lost his unit, a man who lost his ward, a man who lost his local government, a man who lost his state and he is coming to preside over us who won our units, won our wards, won our local governments, won our state, something must be wrong.
“You cannot reap where you never sowed. If all of us have lost our states, what will you be chairing? You want to use Rivers State to be chairman, we are not a party to that. Go and bring your own local government.”
Continuing in his submission, the Rivers Chief Executive said; “Here (in Rivers), we won 32 over 32 seats for the House of Assembly, Ayu, how many did you win? Here, we won the three seats for Senate too, Ayu, how many did you win? We won 11 out of the 13 seats for the House of Representatives, Ayu, how many did you win?”
In his remarks, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, who inaugurated the road project, said Governor Wike had done so well for Rivers people by spreading his development projects to virtually every community, adding that he was following Wike’s footsteps in Oyo.
