Fresh twist in PDP crisis as Benue chapter suspends ward exco for moving against Ayu

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) working committee in Benue has suspended the party’s executives in Igyorov ward, Gboko LGA of the state.

Isaac Mffo, the PDP acting chairman in Benue, announced the suspension of the ward executive members on Thursday while speaking with journalists in Makurdi, the Benue state capital.

Mffo said the action taken against the executive members is necessary to restore “sanity” in the ward following their suspension of Iyorchia Ayu.

He said their suspension is with immediate effect and would last for four weeks.

“That the executive committee of the PDP in Igyorov council ward is hereby suspended for a period of one month pending necessary action which shall be taken to restore sanity, harmony, law and order in the party in the area,” the letter reads.

“That the executive committee of the PDP in Igyorov council ward shall hand over all documents and other items in their possession belonging to the party to the party’s state executive committee with immediate effect.

“The state working committee, shall during this period, administer the affairs of the party in the Igyorov council ward in the best interest of the party, discipline, growth and success.”

The ward executive members, on Sunday, suspended Ayu over alleged anti-party activities.

The suspension letter was dated March 24 and was signed by 12 members of the Igyorov ward.

They claimed that Ayu worked against the success of the party in the ward during the elections.

A day later, a high court in Benue granted an interim order restraining him from functioning as the party’s leader.

The PDP subsequently appointed Iliya Umar Damagum as the acting national chairman.