Following the exit of the embattled National Chairman of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, the Deputy National Chairman, North, of the party, Amb. Umar Iliya Damagum, has taken over as acting National Chairman.
Recall that Ayu finally thrown in the towel by stepping aside on Tuesday, March 28, following his suspension from the party by his ward executive committee in his state, Benue.
Damagum will hold sway pending the determination of the suit filed against him at the Benue State High Court, sitting on Markudi.
Recall also that a Benue State High Court in Makurdi, had restrained embattled Ayu from parading himself as PDP National Chairman pending the determination of the substantive suit which has been adjourned to April 17, 2023, for hearing.
A member of the PDP from Benue State, Terhide Utaan, who is the plaintiff in the suit before Justice W. I Kpochi, obtained the order restraining Ayu from parading himself as PDP National Chairman.
Addressing journalists in Makurdi after obtaining the court order, the plaintiff said, “Following the suspension of Ayu by his Igyorov Ward exco on Sunday, it is wrong for him to keep up with the office of the National Chairman and further disunite the party.”
Before the r cent developments in the opposition party, there had been stringent calls by some aggrieved members of the party, calling for Ayu to step aside for a Southerner to take over as the National Chairman of the party.
The PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and the Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike, had been at each other’s jugular over the removal or resignation of Ayu.
Wike had on several occasions called for the suspension or sack of Ayu “for refusing to obey the constitution of the party on the zoning of political positions.”
