Benue PDP suspends Ayu over ‘anti-party’ activities during election

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue state has suspended Iyorchia Ayu, national chairman of the party, over alleged anti-party activities.

Ayu’s suspension letter dated March 24 was signed by 12 executive members of Igyorov ward of Gboko LGA, Benue state.

Ayu hails from Benue state.

In the letter, the executive members claimed that Ayu worked against the success of the party in Igyorov ward in the 2023 general election.

The party also claimed that Ayu did not vote in the March 18 governorship and house of assembly elections.

“We the underlisted are ward executive members of Igyorov ward, Gboko local government,” the letter reads.

“Having reviewed the conduct of the presidential and national assembly elections as well as the governorship and state house of assembly elections held on the February 25 and March 18 2023 respectively, we observed with utmost dismay that Iyorchia Ayu, who is the national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), worked against the success of the party in Igyorov council ward.

“It is on record that he has also failed to pay his annual subscription fees as provided under section 8 subsection 9 of the constitution of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) 2017 (as amended).

“Further investigation also revealed that he did not vote during the governorship and state assembly elections held on March 18.

“It was also discovered that most of his closest allies worked for the opposition party, the All Progressive Congress (APC) and hence, the abysmal performance of the PDP in Igyorov ward.

“In view of the foregoing, we hereby pass a vote of no confidence on Dr. Iyorchia Ayu and suspend him as a member of our party with immediate effect. The suspension takes effect from March 24, 2023.”

This development comes days after the PDP national working committee (NWC) led by Ayu referred Ortom, Benue governor, to a disciplinary committee over alleged anti-party affairs.

Over the past few months, Ortom and other G5 governors have been at loggerheads with Ayu over the leadership of the party.

The G5 governors asked Ayu to resign because he is from the same region as the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

Owing to the development, the G5 governors refused to support Atiku’s presidential ambition or participate in the presidential campaign.