He Democratic Party of the Peoples (PDP) has revoked the suspension of former Senate President Pius Anyim, former Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose and former Katsina State Governor Ibrahim Shema from the party.
It also lifted the suspension of two other members: Dennis Ityavyar from Benue State and Aslam Aliyu from Zamfara State.
The party also revoked the referral of Benue state governor Samuel Ortom to its disciplinary committee.
A statement by PDP spokesman Debo Ologunagba on Thursday in Abuja said he made the decision at the national working committee (NWC) meeting where recent developments in the party were widely discussed.
“The National Work Committee (NWC) of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) at its meeting today, Thursday, March 30, 2023, extensively discussed recent developments in the Party.
“The NWC recognized the imperative for full reconciliation between Party leadership and critical stakeholders for a more cohesive Party in the overall interest of our many members and Nigerians in general.
Governor Samuel Ortom, Governor of Benua State.
“Consequently with the above, the NWC revokes the referral of the Governor of Benue State, His Excellency, Dr. Samuel Ortom to the National Disciplinary Committee.
“The NWC, in the same vein, reverses the suspension of the following unlisted members of our great party:
1. HE Ibrahim Shema (Katsina State)
2. Ayodele Fayose (Ekiti State)
3. Senator Pius Anyim (Ebonyi State)
4. Prof. Dennis Ityavyar (Benue State)
5. Dr. Aslam Aliyu (Zamfara State)
The party said the decision was “without prejudice to the powers of the NWC to take any necessary disciplinary action against any member of the party at any time in accordance with the provisions of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017).”
He said that “the NWC urges all leaders, critical stakeholders and many members of our party across the country to be guided by the provisions of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017) as well as the new spirit and need for reconciliation, unity and harmony. in our Party at this critical moment.”
The statement also said that the PDP must remain focused while necessary steps are taken “to take back the stolen mandate freely given by Nigerians to our party and presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, on Saturday, February 25, 2023, at the Court of Appeal. of Presidential Elections”.
The NWC had approved last Friday the suspension of Messrs. Anyim, Fayose, Shema and two others from the party. However, he did not reveal his crimes.
Ayodele Fayose
The decision to reverse the suspension came two days after Iyorchia Ayu stepped down as DPP national chairman and was replaced by the party’s (North) national vice president, Umar Damagum.
A Benue high court, Makurdi, ordered Ayu to stop portraying himself as the party’s national chairman.
Two days before the court order, the PDP’s Igyorov district chapter, Benue state, had announced the suspension of the party’s national chairman for alleged anti-party activities.
However, Ayu opposed the move, saying only the party’s national executive committee (NEC) could suspend him.
Anyim, Shema react
Meanwhile, Anyim had condemned the PDP’s decision to suspend him.
Although the NWC did not take offense, Anyim, in a statement, said the action was “disappointing to say the least.”
Former Katsina State Governor Ibrahim Shema
He said the party should have concerned itself with how to carry out a “comprehensive self-examination of why they performed so poorly in the 2023 election rather than seeking to further divide the party through blame”.
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He added: “It smacks of arrogance for the NWC to put on a bold face instead of showing remorse and sobering up for leading the party to such a colossal loss in the 2023 election, thereby dashing the hopes and expectations of party members, and thus Made, from Nigerians. .”
For his part, Shema, in a letter to Ayu, threatened to quit the party if his suspension was not revoked within 48 hours.
He also asked the national president to rescind the decision to dissolve the party’s executive committee in Katsina state.
Nnamani, others suspended earlier
Before the hammer fell on Messrs Anyim, Fayose and Shema, the PDP had previously expelled former Enugu state governor Chimaroke Nnamani and others in Ekiti and Imo states for alleged anti-partisan activities.
Among those expelled was Oluwajomiloju, the son of Mr. Fayose, who was already nominated as a candidate in the February 25 National Assembly election.
They were initially suspended from the match.