From Victor Osula,Abuja
The pre-election supremacy battle in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, took a turn for the worse on Tuesday, when National Chairman Iyorchia Ayu was removed and replaced by party’s nation deputy chairman, north Iliya Umar Damagun.
This followed an emergency meeting of the National Working Commitee, NWC, in the wake of a High Court in Benue State ruling the previous day ordering Ayu to stop parading himself as National Chairman, pending the determination of a suit filed by Terhide Utaan.
Recall that Ayu was suspended on Sunday, by the executive committee of his Igyorovo ward in Gboko local government, Benue state.
A letter signed by the ward chairman of Igyorov, Kashi Philip, alongside the exco, said Ayu was suspended for alleged anti-party activities.
According to the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr Debo Ologunagba, the decision to replace Ayu was taken at an emergency meeting and it is with immediate effect.
He said, ” 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 NCW resolved that the deputy national chairman, north, his excellency, Umar Illiya Damagun assumes national chairmanship of our party in acting capacity.”
