On Friday, a State High Court that was sitting in Makurdi, the capital city of Benue State, confirmed that Iyorchia Ayu had been removed from his position as the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party.
Ayu’s membership in the party was also declared invalid by the judge who was presiding over the case, Maurice Ikpambese.
Ikpambese stated in his verdict that in accordance with article 8(9) of the PDP constitution, Ayu was no longer considered a member of the PDP because he had failed to pay the membership fees that were required of him.
He came to the conclusion that Ayu’s membership in the PDP had been terminated because he had not paid the membership subscription fee.
Ikpambese went on to say that according to paragraph one of article 46 of the PDP, the ward has the authority to censure a member of the PDP’s National Executive Committee.
Ayu also argued that the ward did not have the authority to suspend a member of the NEC from their position.
His verdict read as follows: “The plaintiff has proven his case. The plaintiff has been successful in gaining a resolution to each and every question that required determination. He is entitled to all of the reliefs that have been requested. I so order.”
In March of 2023, the executive members of the Igyorov ward in the Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State cast a vote of no confidence in Ayu due to activities that allegedly went against the party.
The executives further asserted that Ayu did not participate in the elections for governor and the House of Assembly that were held on March 18 in the state, and that he also actively worked against the success of the PDP in his ward during the elections.
After this, Terhide Utaan took matters into their own hands and petitioned the court in an ex parte motion to prevent Ayu from representing himself as the national chairman of the party.
The legal action was initiated by Utaan through the representation of his attorney, Emmanuel Ukala (SAN). Despite this, Ayu has responded to the lawsuit by submitting a preliminary objection through his attorney, J.J. Usman.
