*Insists only PDP’s NEC has such power
*Blames plot on unnamed persons in Makurdi
By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja
Embattled National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Dr Iyorchia Ayu has described his purported suspension by the executive committee members of his Igyorov ward in Gboko local government area of Benue State as an exercise in futility.
Ayu categorically declared that those behind the plot are only investing in expensive illusions.
It will be recalled that Ayu was suspended on Sunday over allegations of anti-party activities and failure to pay his dues among others.
However, the National Chairman, in a statement on Monday by his Special Adviser on Media and Communications,
Simon Imobo-Tswam, maintained that only the National Executive Committee, NEC, of the PDP can suspend him.
Ayu, an erstwhile Senate President, stressed that his purported suspension by his ward Executive Committee members merely derives its strength majorly from gross illiteracy, ignorance, gambling and desperation.
Continuing, the former University Don stated that the said suspension exercise has only “mischief, drama and propaganda value”.
Some members of the Exco of his ward, he claimed, are only being teleguided by political gamblers to cause mischief and nothing more.
The statement reads, “Our attention has been drawn to rumours that the PDP National Chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, has been suspended by the Executive Committee of his Ward.
“We wish to state categorically and with all emphasis at our disposal thus:
“The PDP National Chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, has not been suspended by his Ward.
“Some members of the Exco are only being teleguided by political gamblers to cause mischief and nothing more.
“For starters, Article 57(7) of the PDP Constitution as Amended in 2017 expressly prohibits any organ of the party or executive committee of the party at the Ward or State Level from taking any disciplinary measure against any member of the party’s National Executive Committee.
“The purported suspension is, therefore, an exercise in futility as it derives its strength majorly from gross illiteracy, ignorance, gambling and desperation. It has only mischief, drama and propaganda value.
“But more than this, the so-called suspension letter was written by an illiterate before hand, and only given to the coerced members to sign somewhere in Makurdi.
“This is why the original date is tippexed and 24 March imposed on it. And this is also why it states that the presidential/NASS and Governorship/State Assembly elections held on 25th and 18th March, 2023 respectively.
“From what we know, document itself is fraudulent as the signatures of the Ward Executives were forged or obtained under duress.
“The Chairman, his deputy and legal adviser didn’t sign. The 14th person on the list didn’t sign too. She was at NKST Ambighir for the Holy Communion.
“In fact, the same applies for Nos. 5, 8 and 16. At the time they were supposed to be in Makurdi with the other coerced, intimidated and induced members of the Exco, they were actually in their villages, going about their normal businesses.
“Up till now, about nine members of the Ward Exco are still being held hostage in a location in Makurdi for obvious reasons. And expectedly, their mobile numbers have been switched off. It is instructive.
“The general public is hereby advised to ignore rumours to this heinous effect. “Those behind the plot are only investing in expensive illusions”, the statement by Imobo-Tswam concluded.
