‘Ayu Will Be Back’ – PDP NWC Member Tells Wike, G-5 Govs

A member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Working Committee (NWC), Timothy Osadolor, has said the National Chairman of the party, Iyorchia Ayu, will be back in his office soon.

According to Osadolor,  anyone ruling out the chances of Ayu returning to the office will be disappointed because such a person does not know the stuff the embattled chairman is made of.

Recall that the Igorov ward executive committee in the Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State had on Sunday suspended Ayu for alleged anti-party activities and for failing to pay his membership dues.

Following the suspension, the Benue State High Court restrained Ayu from parading himself as the chairman of the party following a suit filed by a former aide to Governor Samuel Ortom, Conrad Utaan.

The development saw Ayu step aside pending the ruling of the court and vowed to fight his suspension from the party at the Court of Appeal.

However, in compliance with the court ruling, the PDP appointed the Deputy National Chairman, (North), Umar Damagum, as the acting national chairman.

In his reaction, the Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, said Ayu could not reap from the party by presiding over its affairs when he did not secure any electoral victory for it.

Speaking with The Punch on Tuesday, Osadolor said Ayu will be back in office because his suspension is null and void because the constitution of the party is clear on the matter.

He said, “Ayu will be back. It is not a question of if but when. As I said a few days ago, the suspension from his ward is null and void because the constitution of the party is clear on the matter.

“Only a committee set up by the NEC of the PDP can suspend a national officer of the party. Ayu will prove this in court. He merely stepped aside to show them in court that they lack the power to sanction him as they are trying to do.”

On the way forward for the party, Osadolor asked all the warring factions to stop the bickering and work in the interest of the party.

He added: “It is important that we put aside all pettiness and work in the interest of the party. But some privileged individuals who became what they are today courtesy of the PDP platform want to destroy the party.”