A Benue State High Court in Makurdi has restrained Senator Iyorchia Ayu from parading himself as the national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party – PDP.
Monday’s restraining order came less than 24 hours after the embattled PDP top official was suspended by his Igyorov Ward in the Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State.
It would be recalled that the National Working Committee of the PDP suspended former governors Ayo Fayose (Ekiti), Ibrahim Shema (Katsina), Chimaroke Nnamani (Enugu) and a former Senate President, Anyim Pius, and others for alleged anti-party activities last week.
The party leadership also referred the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, to its disciplinary committee for the same offence. Ortom is a member of the G-5 governors comprising governors Nyesom Wike – Rivers, Seyi Makinde – Oyo, Okezie Ikpeazu – Abia and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi – Enugu.
The five governors who are insisting on the removal of Ayu.
Meanwhile, in an apparent reaction to his suspension on Monday, Ayu argued that only the NEC could suspend him.
He pointed out that the PDP constitution expressly prohibited any organ of the party or executive committee at the ward, state or national level to take any disciplinary measure against any member of the National Executive Committee.