PDP Crisis: Ayu Did Not Consult Us Before Taking Decisions – NWC Member Makes Disclosure

Reports from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have indicated that more individuals and groups are set against the return of the suspended National Chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu.

According to a Party source who spoke to The Nation, the National Working  Committee (NWC) has chosen to move on without him.

Stakeholders who want to rebuild the party following its loss at the last presidential election, are drawn from the various organs of the party including the NWC, the Board of Trustees (BoT) and the National Executive Committee (NEC), among others.

The majority of such stakeholders, it was gathered, are against Ayu’s return.

Naija News recalls that the NWC now led by Iliya Umar Damagum had on Thursday reversed the March 23 suspension orders handed some prominent members under Ayu’s chairmanship.

Those affected by the suspension include former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Chief Pius Anyim, former Governors Ayo Fayose (Ekiti), Ibrahim Shema (Katsina), Prof. Dennis Ityavyar from Benue State and Dr Aslam Aliyu from Zamfara State.

Similarly, the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom who was referred to the party’s disciplinary committee also had the referral order withdrawn.

The reversal of the suspension was seen as a clear denunciation of Ayu by the Damagum-led NWC.

A member of the NWC who spoke to the Nation in Abuja on Friday explained that Ayu did not carry other members of the NWC while making decisions.

The NWC member, who craved anonymity, said that the suspension of the party chieftains and the referral of Governor Ortom to the party’s disciplinary committee were not discussed at any of the meetings of the NWC.

The member said: “On the surface, the disciplinary measures taken against the party chieftains emanated from the NWC. But I can tell you that the matter was not tabled for discussion at any of our meetings.

“It is quite unfortunate that as NWC members, the rest of us could not have come out to openly disagree with Dr Ayu because that would have sent the wrong signals to the public.

“As NWC members, we all know that party members cannot be suspended without a fair hearing by giving them the opportunity to defend themselves. That is what the PDP constitution says and everybody, not the least, Dr Ayu knows this.”