Ayu Has Right to Appeal Judgment of Benue Court Sacking Him, Says PDP

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said its suspended National Chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu has the right to appeal his sack by a Benue State High Court.
 The party further said the appeal would determine once and for all the incessant issues of ward executives sacking national chairmen and members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) members.

 So far, two national chairmen of the party were sacked by their ward executives.
The first was Prince Uche Secondus and the second was Ayu.

Speaking in an interview with THISDAY, the Deputy National Legal Adviser of the party, Okechukwu Osuoha, said the National Working Committee (NWC) was aware of the confirmation of Ayu’s suspension by the court, but there was nothing the party could do till the embattled national chairman has exhausted his rights of appeal.

 According to Osuoha, “Like any other Nigerian, Ayu has a right of appeal until the highest court of the land.
 “PDP has to be patient till the apex court takes a final decision on Ayu’s suspension before it could do otherwise, else, the party could be accused of infringing on his fundamental rights.

 “We are particularly interested in the pronouncements of the court on the sack of the national chairman by the ward executives.
 “We are interested because it is contrary to the constitution of the party that no member of the National Executive Committee (NEC) would be sacked by the ward executive. This is another way of trying to instill discipline in the party”, the PDP deputy national adviser stated.

 A Benue State High Court sitting in Makurdi had confirmed the sack of Ayu as the National Chairman of PDP.
The presiding judge, Justice Maurice Ikpambese, also nullified Ayu’s membership in the party.

In his verdict, Ikpambese said by Article 8(9) of the PDP’s constitution, Ayu ceased to be a member of the PDP due to his failure to pay his membership fees.
He ruled that Ayu’s membership of the PDP elapsed with his failure to pay his membership subscription fee.
 Ikpambese added that Article 46(1) of the PDP empowers the ward to discipline a member of the party’s NEC.
 Ayu had also argued that the ward lacked the power to suspend a member of the NEC.

 But in his verdict, the judge said: “The plaintiff has proven his case. All the questions for determination have been resolved in favour of the plaintiff. He is entitled to all the reliefs sought.”
 The executive members of Igyorov ward, Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State, had passed a vote of no confidence in Ayu over alleged anti-party activities in March 2023.

 The executives also alleged Ayu did not vote in the March 18 governorship and the House of Assembly elections in the state and also worked against the success of the PDP in his ward during the elections.
 Following this, Terhide Utaan filed an ex parte motion praying to the court to stop Ayu from parading himself as the national chairman of the party.
  Utaan filed the suit through his lawyer, Emmanuel Ukala (SAN). However, Ayu through his counsel, J.J Usman, filed a preliminary objection to the suit.