On Tuesday, the PDP’s National Working Committee stated that Senator Iyorchia Ayu, the party’s suspended chairman, would be replaced as acting party leader by Umar Damagum, the national vice-chairman for the north.
The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Debo Ologunagba, made the announcement of the appointment at an emergency meeting on Tuesday. At a press conference, Ologunagba claimed that the decision was made as a result of the High Court Order in Benue State from March 27, 2023, prohibiting Ayu from representing himself as the party’s chairman.
According to reports, a High Court in Makurdi, Benue State, ordered a temporary injunction on Monday prohibiting Ayu from impersonating the national chairman of the People’s Democratic Party.
Ayu was suspended last Thursday due to alleged anti-party conduct, after the suspension of numerous other party chieftains.
Ayodele Fayose, the former governor of Ekiti State, Pius Anyim, Professor Dennis Ityavyar, Aslam Aliyu, and Shehu Schema, the former governor of Katsina State, among others, all felt the full force of suspension.
Ologunagba while addressing the press conference stated, “The presiding judge, Justice W.I. Kpochi, gave the interim order on Monday in the suit No. MHC/85/2023 filed at the court by Terhide Utaan with Ayu and the PDP as defendants. On Tuesday, March 28, 2023, we acknowledge the order of the Benue State High Court, dated March 27, 2023 with regards to the chairmanship position of our great Party.
“After a careful consideration of the court order and in line with Section 45 (2) of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017), the NWC resolved that the Deputy National Chairman (North) His Excellency, Amb. Umar Ililya Damagum, assumes the National Chairmanship of our party in acting capacity with effect from today, Tuesday, March 28, 2023.”
The PDP spokesperson went on to say that the NWC also ordered all leaders, significant stakeholders, throngs of party supporters, and members to maintain composure and unity at this crucial time.
“We are here to fulfill all righteousness, we have a court order restraining the chairman, our national chairman, and we are law abiding, said the National Vice-Chairman, North, who after the NWC’s announcement assumed the role of acting national chairman of the party.
“I will be here with you in acting capacity pending the determination of the court, I want to use this opportunity to employ you to give me the cooperation as all used to have with you.
“I will have a meeting immediately after this session with the NWC to review what is happening in the party,” he said.
Muhammad Suleiman, the national youth leader, Kamaldeen Adeyemi Ajibade, SAN, Ahmed Yayari Mohammed, the national treasurer, Umar Bature, the national organizing secretary, Daniel Woyegikuro, and senator Samuel Anyanwu, the national secretary, were some of the NWC members present.