The National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has appointed Umar Damagum, to oversee the affairs of the party in acting capacity.
Damagum’s appointment follows the suspension of the national chairman of the party, Iyorchia Ayu.
The development was announced by the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Debo Ologunagba, at a press conference on Tuesday, at the party’s secretariat.
Recall that a High Court in Makurdi, Benue State, had issued an interim injunction restraining Ayu from parading himself as the National Chairman of the party.
The presiding judge, Justice W.I. Kpochi, had given the interim order on Monday in the suit No. MHC/85/2023 filed at the court by Terhide Utaan with Ayu and the PDP as defendants.
The case was, however, adjourned until April 17 for further hearing.
Meanwhile, the senator representing Enugu East and former Governor of Enugu State, Chimaroke Nnamani, has asked the embattled chairman to vacate office as National Chairman of the party.
According to him, Ayu’s “deception and abysmal performance are unmitigated”.
He said Ayu’s leadership is “an evil that befell the PDP. The only option left is to show him the exit door.
“How can Ayu be relying on the PDP constitution Section 57 (7) to seek refuge when he had flagrantly subverted the same section to sack key stakeholders of the party including me?”
“Section 57(7) of the PDP constitution stipulates that “Notwithstanding any other provision relating to discipline, no executive committee at any level, except the National Executive Committee, shall entertain any question of discipline as may relate or concern a member of the National Executive Committee, Deputy Governors or members of the National Assembly.”
He recalled that the Ayu-led NWC relied on the aforementioned section to expel him when it lacked the power to do so pointing out that Ayu’s case now is “akin to the evil that men do lives with them.”
Nnamani further said Ayu lacked the moral right to stay a day longer in office as National Chairman.
“If he still has any modicum of honour, he should quit immediately. Look at the shame he has brought on the PDP. Look at the array of key stakeholders Ayu has sacked or forced to leave the party, Nnamani said.”
Nnamani, therefore, urged the NEC and the Board of Trustees of the party to wade in to show Ayu the exit door to save the party from complete extinction.
